a) risk of health damage is associated with certain groups of chemicals;

b) the risk of serious chemical accidents occurring is significant;

c) the number of areas contaminated with chemicals and other chemical-type wastes pose a risk of environmental damage;

d) the factors noted above can combine.
 

Ad a. The following groups of chemicals cause the most problems:

· Acute poisonings primarily occur as a result of attempted suicides, but the incidence of accidental poisonings is relatively high, and the incidence of poisonings caused by drug overdose is also on the rise; occupational poisonings do not occur in significant numbers thanks to appropriate workplace regulations and suitable labour protection measures. The vast majority of poisonings are caused by medicines, a smaller number by pesticides and commercial chemicals meant for domestic use (a significant portion of accidental pesticide poisonings result in death).

· Substances that cause occupational and environmental health problems

· Asbestos. There are no asbestos mines in Hungary, but asbestos processing is significant, environmental contamination caused by asbestos is not adequately known, but may be significant. The number of people who have been exposed to asbestos, and the incidence and prevalence of asbestos-induced lung cancer and mesothelioma are not known with adequate accuracy. Disposal and neutralisation of asbestos waste is not performed in a satisfactory manner.

· Lead. In the past few years, occupational lead poisonings have resurfaced as a result of the inadequate regulation of the world of work (i.e. a surge in unemployment and the size of the "black" [illegal or semi-legal] economy, inadequate regulatory oversight of non-organised work, inadequacies in the supervision of chemical safety). Lead contamination of the environment is declining (more cars are equipped with catalytic converters, the lead content of petrol [gasoline] has been reduced, and metallurgy is on the decline).

· Carcinogenic chemicals. The expected value of the number of tumors of occupational origin is 1,200. The number of tumors of occupational origin actually diagnosed and reported is less than 30 per year. There is no register of cases of occupational cancers.

· Persistent organic pollutants (POPs). When getting into the living organisms, these pollutants are hardly excreted or not at all. Of the 12 substances of this category, hexachloro-benzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and furanes cause problems in Hungary. The environmental contamination caused by POPs is not adequately known.

· Sensibilizing chemical substances. The majority of allergic afflictions of occupational origin (dermatitis, asthma bronchiale) are caused by chemicals. It is primarily cases of asthma bronchiale that go undiagnosed and unreported.

· Endocrine disruptors. Not a lot is being done to deal with these substances which play a role in inducing infertility, not even at the research level – their practical relevance is unknown.

Ad b. Production and storage facilities, and transport by road, rail and pipeline puts the general public at increased risk of serious accidents (havarias, catastrophes) involving chemicals in Budapest and several counties (primarily Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Veszprém counties). Settlements, regions, and transport routes have been classified according to the degree of danger.

With respect to the prevention of accidents, attention should be focused on flammable and explosive substances; the amount of petroleum products produced annually exceeds that of all other types of chemicals combined – there is a significant risk of accidents occurring at oil refineries, pipelines, and fuel storage facilities.

Ad c. Following the survey and registration of contaminated areas, a "governmental" programme was started in 1996 to counter the effects of environmental damage; in this context, emergency measures have been taken in 8 areas, while fact-finding work has been carried out in 15, and preparatory work in 17 areas. The chapter examines and ranks the most important problems.

Ad d. In regions that were expressly noted for the increased level of danger (e.g. Budapest, and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Veszprém counties), the problems mentioned in paragraphs 1-3 exist side-by-side, despite significant efforts by governmental and municipal authorities, and large chemical and pharmaceutical companies to decrease risks of a chemical origin.