Physicist Ronald Koopman warned about the dangers of hydrofluoric acid back in the 1980s. Today, his warnings ring ever more loudly as the Trump administration proposes to weaken industrial chemical safety regulations.

The number of accidents involving dangerous chemicals has risen by 57% between 2021 and 2025, from 83 to 131. Injuries or deaths have also increased significantly during this period, from 60 to 89 cases.

Close to 150 million people live within three miles of facilities that use hazardous materials. Historically understated and overburdened populations, particularly Black and Latino communities, are at the highest risk of exposure in case of a leak.

The analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility notes that more than 650 accidents occurred between April 2020 and May 2026. The Chemical Safety Board reports that out of these, 103 resulted in fatalities, 355 caused injuries, and 314 led to substantial property damage.

Jeff Ruch from PEER states: 'With each passing year the risk gets greater because the infrastructure continues to age.' As safety rules are weakened, it is a pressing question for society whether the cost of convenience outweighs the risks of potential disasters.