{
  "abstract": "Runaway polymerization represents a major concern in process safety due to its potential to generate fires, explosions, and toxic releases with severe human and environmental consequences. However, polymerization hazards are not always adequately considered across all operational contexts, particularly beyond reaction systems.\n\nTwo principal types of hazardous events are identified through a systematic analysis of accident data: loss of control during an intended polymerization and self-polymerization, the latter occurring primarily during storage and transport. In this study, 90 polymerization-related accidents reported in major international databases were analysed. A total of 26 substances were identified, with styrene emerging as the most frequently involved monomer. Among these, 13 substances were associated with self-polymerization scenarios. These events frequently occur outside reaction systems and are less well accounted for or integrated into risk assessments in these specific contexts.\n\nThe causes of these accidents include key triggers specific to polymerization, such as heat exposure, inhibitor depletion, and loss of cooling or stirring. The consequences include releases of hazardous substances, fires, and explosions, often resulting in severe human impacts. The analysis shows that uncontrolled polymerization frequently acts as an initiating event leading to escalation toward loss of containment, fire, explosion, or toxic dispersion.\n\nBy distinguishing accident scenarios and linking them to their operational contexts and triggers, this study provides a process-safety-oriented framework for improved hazard identification. The results highlight the need to better account for self-polymerization risks beyond reaction units in safety assessment practices.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Daniele Maccarone"
    },
    {
      "name": "Patricia Rotureau"
    },
    {
      "name": "Carlo Adamo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Guillaume Fayet"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ekj4a4z420tk3.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.jlp.2026.106149",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "ekj4a4z420tk3",
  "issns": [
    "0950-4230"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://ineris.hal.science/ineris-05739026v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sde"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sde.ie"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1804|Risk and Safety Analysis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7197031102",
  "pdf_url": "https://ineris.hal.science/ineris-05739026/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-04",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ekj4a4z420tk3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:29Z",
      "native_id": "ineris-05739026",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://ineris.hal.science/ineris-05739026v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:0.sde",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Uncontrolled polymerizations: lessons from accident case studies",
  "title_text": "Uncontrolled polymerizations: lessons from accident case studies",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:29Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ekj4a4z420tk3",
  "venue": "Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries",
  "versions": []
}