«Exposure to high levels of chlorine gas from a release can cause severe health effects, including death,» said Mary Anne Duncan,
an epidemiologist at the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry who has assisted with the aftermath of several chlorine accidents, including the one in Tulare.
What's troubling about these trends is that most
federal agencies are poorly equipped to protect themselves from undue corporate influence, says David Michaels, an
epidemiologist at George Washington University and former assistant secretary for environment, safety, and health
at the Department of Energy.