technology
Chemical accidents rose 57 percent from 2021 to 2025
Accidents involving dangerous chemical releases increased from 83 to 131 over five years. Injuries and deaths from those incidents rose from 60 to 89 during the same period.
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The number of accidents involving releases of dangerous chemicals rose by 57 percent between 2021 and 2025, from 83 to 131, according to an analysis released Monday by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Injuries or deaths from accidents also rose, from 60 to 89 over the same five-year period, the analysis found.
Incident reports released by the Chemical Safety Board show that more than 650 accidents occurred between April 2020 and May 2026, with 103 resulting in fatalities, 355 causing injuries and 314 doing substantial property damage.
Background on the chemical Hydrofluoric acid is used to manufacture refrigerants, gasoline, fluorine-based pesticides and fluoropolymers such as Teflon. It is also one of the most corrosive and dangerous chemicals known. Physicist Ronald Koopman conducted experiments with the chemical in the 1980s that warned about the potential of deadly accidents at facilities that use the hazardous materials.
Close to 150 million people live within 3 miles of these facilities. Historically underserved and overburdened populations, including people who identify as Black and Latino, are at greatest risk of exposure to an accidental release. Many refineries were built before 1985.
"With each passing year the risk gets greater because the infrastructure continues to age," said Jeff Ruch, senior counsel at PEER.
