The frequency of a scenario of events that results in a toxic leak of chemical i

Question

The frequency of a scenario of events that results in a toxic leak of chemical into the air at a chemical plant is 4.3 x 10-4 per year. When this happens, people are exposed to contaminated air containing 12 micro-gram/m3 of a carcinogen. Here are additional facts:

Human breathing rate according to the EPA should be 20 m3 /day.

The fraction of this toxic gas that ends up being absorbed is 12%

Health effect is 9 cancer deaths per gram absorbed

Average exposure time before the toxin dissipates is 10 minutes

Number of people exposed is 2000

a) What is the individual annual risk of this accident rate to an exposed person?

b) How long an exposure could lead to an individual annual risk of 10-6?

Explanation / Answer

9 cancer deaths per year per 2000 people. so chances of each individual getting affected is 0.0045.

it takes 10 minutes to have 0.12 absorbance. so to have 10-6 risk it requires =0.12/10 * 200= 277 hours

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