Geography 2152F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Ozone Depletion, Polonium, Genetically Modified Food
23 Dec 2018
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Document Summary
These have a wide and varied interpretation. They can vary from a single toxic chemical accident to an entire industry (e. g. nuclear energy). Hybrid disasters may fit into this category: ex: an earthquake that causes an oil or chemical spill from a pipeline. Technological disasters involving the environment are included in this category as well: ex: sinking of the titanic, explosions of the challenger and columbia space shuttles. Typically, the death tolls from technological hazards are relatively low. Vulnerability is greatest for those involved in industry or transportation systems, mining industry has highest risk for death and exposure to conditions. Workers in resource industries in hinterlands are at higher risk mining industry has highest risk for death and exposure to conditions. Widespread: long term (nuclear accidents, hazards leading to cumulative effects. Rare events: airplane crashes, mine collapses, shipwrecks. These are conditions that worsen slowly over time as exposure to a concentration increases.
