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Ronald Koopman stood before a Southern California Air District meeting in 2018. He spoke about a complex scientific topic: how hydrofluoric acid spreads in the air and how water can help control it. This chemical, also known as hydrogen fluoride or HF, is used to make many common materials. It helps create refrigerants, gasoline, pesticides, and plastics like Teflon. However, it is also one of the most dangerous and corrosive chemicals known to science. Koopman had studied this chemical in the 1980s. His work warned about the deadly risks of accidents at factories that use these hazardous materials.
Today, these warnings are more urgent than ever. The Trump administration is proposing to weaken safety rules designed to protect workers and nearby communities from catastrophic industrial chemical releases. At the same time, new data shows that chemical accidents are increasing. This combination has brought Koopman’s past research back into the spotlight.
An analysis released by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) shows a sharp rise in dangerous incidents. Between 2021 and 2025, the number of accidents involving dangerous chemical releases increased by 57 percent. The number of incidents rose from 83 to 131. Injuries and deaths also climbed during this five-year period, going from 60 to 89. These numbers come from an independent agency called the Chemical Safety Board (CSB), which investigates chemical accidents.
The CSB reports that more than 650 accidents occurred between April 2020 and May 2026. These incidents had severe consequences. One hundred and three accidents resulted in fatalities. Three hundred and fifty-five caused injuries. Three hundred and fourteen caused substantial damage to property. Close to 150 million people live within three miles of these industrial facilities. The risks are highest for historically underserved and overburdened populations, including Black and Latino communities.
Many of the refineries involved in these accidents were built before 1985. As time passes, the risk increases because the infrastructure continues to age. Jeff Ruch, a senior counsel at PEER, noted that older facilities pose a greater threat to public safety. He emphasized that the federal response to these growing risks is shrinking just as the problems get worse.