Petrochemical incidents aren’t always as visible as the East Palestine train derailment, but at least 322 happened last year.
by Emily Atkin, Heated
Climate policy obstructionists love to evangelize about the benefits of petrochemicals.
Last year, in commercials and Congressional hearings alike, the fossil fuel industry and its political allies upped their messaging around the chemical byproducts of oil and gas, calling petrochemicals “essential to life,” and warning it would be dangerous to phase them out or transition to greener alternatives.
What proponents consistently did not mention, however, was that petrochemicals were leaking, exploding, and catching fire all over the country last year, causing disastrous consequences multiple times per week.
There were at least 322 hazardous chemical incidents in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Chemical Incident Tracker, a database of media-reported accidental chemical releases compiled by the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters. That’s around a 70 percent increase in media-reported chemical incidents since 2022, when the coalition recorded only 189 disasters.
Recent Posts
As Trump Attacks the Republic, the Cowardly Democratic Party Still Won’t Fight to Win
Take Action Now With few exceptions, the Democratic Party apparatus is coasting, playing “it safe,” and expecting that the Trumpsters will deliver…
ACURA Symposium: Mr. President, Renew New START for the Sake of Peace.
Take Action Now While Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his desire to extend the treaty, it is possible that Trump is being influenced…
Militarized Immigration Enforcement Incompatible With Democracy
Take Action NowICE’s targeting of virtually anyone who is not white and English-speaking — including, ironically, Native Americans — exposes this…
Trump’s Back-and-Forth Threats on Iran Are Psychological Warfare
Take Action NowAs Trump threatens Iran yet again, Congress continues to abdicate its responsibility to rein in war.By Hanieh Jodat, Truthout As…