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BACKGROUND: North Carolinians are exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals daily. While some exposures may not be harmful, others have the potential to cause serious health effects. The Chemical Release Investigation Kit and Template (CRIKT) provides guidance on the steps to investigation and response for local health departments. CRIKT also ensures that local health departments, specifically Communicable Disease nurses, Preparedness Coordinators and Environmental Health staff, are provided with strategies based on the scientific evidence of each chemical hazard to survey for and reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes. This abstract describes the objectives for creating CRIKT based on the most common chemical spills in North Carolina.
METHODS: The toolkit consists of a step-by-step chemical response guide, a one-page chemical fact sheet, a surveillance case investigation template, and contact information and reference. Toolkits are being developed for the most commonly released chemicals in North Carolina.
RESULTS: According to North Carolina’s National Toxic Substance Incidents Program database, there were a total of 854 toxic chemical releases in North Carolina during 2010 to 2012. Two-hundred and eight persons were injured as a result of these releases. The first CRIKT toolkit was developed for Ammonia; the most commonly released chemical accounting for 58 releases during this timeframe. The process for determining which chemicals to include in the CRIKT toolkit began by compiling a list of common chemical hazards. This list was then prioritized by type of chemical and frequency of release. The first chemicals to be included in CRIKT are: 1) Ammonia; 2) Carbon Monoxide; 3) Sodium Hydroxide; 4) Mercury; 5) Sulfuric Acid; 6) Hydrochloric Acid; 7) Chlorine; 8) Methamphetamine; 9) Phosphoric Acid; and 10) Ethylene Glycol.
CONCLUSIONS: Current guidelines do not address the steps to be taken by local health departments in the event of a chemical release. The CRIKT toolkit provides local health departments with the tools necessary to properly prepare and respond to chemical spills. The CRIKT toolkit is unique to North Carolina and other states could benefit from adopting similar tools to address chemical releases.