Some interesting data put together each year by the Wisconsin Department of Public Health Services. 2009 is the most recent update to their data. Here are the summaries:
- Since 1993, Wisconsin has had 768 uncontrolled ammonia releases, representing approximately 45 releases per year.
- 445 (58%) of Wisconsin’s ammonia releases involved refrigeration systems.
- A total of 302 people have sustained injuries as the result of exposure to ammonia, representing 17% of all NTSIP victims.
- Of the 302 total ammonia victims, 138 involved exposure in the refrigeration sector, representing 46% of total ammonia victims.
- During this 17 year period, a total of 24,636 persons were evacuated in connection with ammonia releases in Wisconsin, representing 35% of all NTSIP evacuees. (NOTE: 15,000 evacuees occurred during a single ammonia event in the refrigeration sector during 2009.)
Click Here (external pdf document) for another informative NH3 Fact Sheet from the Wisconsin Department of Public Health Services.