Differences in the risk profiles and risk perception of flammable liquid hazards in San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Abstract

The pace of urbanization and industrialization in developing countries is rapidly increasing. Unfortunately, regulatory and private-sector control of hazards has not always kept pace. This work identifies the level of emergency preparedness in chemical industries and evaluates the spatial distribution of hazards using a worst-case release scenario. Consequently, we identified potentially exposed urban communities and evaluated the social perception of a hazard. This research characterizes risk scenarios in a case study of the industrial area in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Intervention zones of major concern are recognized when deficiencies in emergency preparedness join a poor social perception of hazards in communities that are potentially exposed. The worst-case scenario radii of flammable chemicals range from 425 m to 733 m. Potentially exposed communities have a limited perception of chemical risk and no training in emergency response. Proximity to an industrial area influences communities towards a better recognition of hazards. However, communities far from the industrial area have higher exposure to low preparedness worst-case scenarios for flammable chemicals and have a larger level of vulnerability because of their lack of risk perception.