SARA (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act), Title III: implications for emergency physicians

Practically every community has one or more industries that use or produce hazardous chemicals. The release of these chemicals into that community's environment has the potential of causing serious health problems. Previously, physicians have not had information about what hazardous chemicals were in their community or a warning that release of a hazardous chemical had occurred. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), now mandates that every facility using, storing, or manufacturing hazardous chemicals make public its inventory and report every release of a hazardous chemical to public officials and health personnel. Every facility also must cooperate with physicians who are treating victims of exposure. Emergency physicians, both in their role in their community's emergency medical services system and as physicians in emergency departments, will soon be involved in many aspects of SARA's numerous ramifications. This report is intended to familiarize the emergency physician with the basic components of Title III of SARA.