Table 1

Temporal and seasonal occurrence of chemical incidents in the West Midlands region, UK: 1997–2001

Type of chemical incident reported, n (%)
DepositSpill/leakFire/explosionReleasesOtherUnknownTotal
All events8535534087107551029
Study year
    19972 (2.4)23 (6.5)17 (5.0)5 (5.7)9 (8.4)21 (38.2)77 (7.5)
    199817 (20.0)60 (16.9)50 (14.7)19 (21.8)7 (6.5)9 (16.4)162 (15.7)
    199913 (15.3)81 (22.8)64 (18.8)24 (27.6)30 (28.0)10 (18.2)222 (21.6)
    200030 (35.3)91 (25.6)117 (34.4)16 (18.4)23 (21.5)9 (16.4)286 (27.8)
    200123 (27.1)100 (28.2)92 (27.1)23 (26.4)38 (35.5)6 (10.9)282 (27.4)
Season
    Spring20 (23.5)83 (23.4)89 (26.2)20 (23.0)24 (22.4)16 (29.1)252 (24.5)
    Summer18 (21.2)104 (29.3)111 (32.6)32 (36.8)29 (27.1)8 (14.5)302 (29.3)
    Autumn28 (32.9)98 (27.6)70 (20.6)18 (20.7)35 (32.7)14 (25.5)263 (25.6)
    Winter19 (22.4)70 (19.7)70 (20.6)17 (19.5)19 (17.8)17 (30.9)212 (20.6)
Day of the week
    Monday14 (16.5)48 (13.5)54 (15.9)14 (16.1)19 (17.8)10 (18.2)159 (15.5)
    Tuesday16 (18.8)59 (16.6)44 (12.9)12 (13.8)23 (21.5)8 (14.5)162 (15.7)
    Wednesday13 (15.3)63 (17.7)39 (11.5)21 (24.1)24 (22.4)9 (16.4)169 (16.4)
    Thursday13 (15.3)68 (19.2)59 (17.4)12 (13.8)13 (12.1)11 (20.0)176 (17.1)
    Friday14 (16.5)62 (17.5)52 (15.3)14 (16.1)14 (13.1)12 (21.8)168 (16.3)
    Saturday7 (8.2)27 (7.6)40 (11.8)8 (9.2)7 (6.5)3 (5.5)92 (8.9)
    Sunday8 (9.4)28 (7.9)52 (15.3)6 (6.9)7 (6.5)2 (3.6)103 (10.0)
Time of day (6 hourly)
    00 00–05 5911 (12.9)55 (15.5)62 (18.2)35 (40.2)35 (32.7)20 (36.4)218 (21.2)
    06 00–11 5917 (20.0)104 (29.3)68 (20.0)23 (26.4)29 (27.1)12 (21.8)253 (24.6)
    12 00–17 5933 (38.8)118 (33.2)102 (30.0)21 (24.1)29 (27.1)17 (30.9)320 (31.1)
    18 00–23 5924 (28.2)78 (22.0)108 (31.8)8 (9.2)14 (13.1)6 (10.9)238 (23.1)