Chemical incident management: gaseous emissions from a stockpile of coal

Spontaneous combustion of coal releases a wide range of airborne pollutants which, in high concentrations, may be hazardous to health. Little is known about how the effects on health change in relation to the release of multiple substances. This article reports an incident in which a stockpile of coal released potentially harmful gases into the environment. Although the resultant health effects reported were few, the co-ordinated response by local authorities and health authorities highlighted the advantage of a multidisciplinary approach. Public health departments need to be aware of major chemical hazards within their district. Prompt environmental monitoring and exposure measurement needs to be arranged as this is crucial to making an appropriate response. Updated registers are needed from private companies and public bodies; who can provide timely measurements of chemical hazards. Health districts with more than one local authority may benefit from pooling resources and knowledge in order to prepare for such an incident.