Hygiena 2026, 71(1):20-24 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1906

The Hustopeče nad Bečvou benzene accident: a public health perspective

Klára Jarešová¹, Hana Tomášková^{1, 2}, Pavel Danihelka¹, Rastislav Maďar¹, Ivan Tomášek², Eduard Ježo², Matyáš Fošum^{3, 4}, Lenka Pešáková⁵

¹ Ústav epidemiologie a ochrany veřejného zdraví, Lékařská fakulta Ostravské univerzity, Ostrava, Česká republika

² Zdravotní ústav se sídlem v Ostravě, Ostrava, Česká republika

³ Ministerstvo zdravotnictví České republiky, Praha, Česká republika

⁴ Ústav veřejného zdravotnictví, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci, Olomouc, Česká republika

⁵ Krajská hygienická stanice Olomouckého kraje se sídlem v Olomouci, Olomouc, Česká republika

Benzene (C₆H₆) is a colourless, highly volatile, and flammable aromatic liquid with toxic and carcinogenic effects on human health, and is also hazardous to the environment. While several major accidents involving benzene leaks have occurred in the past, the extraordinary event that took place on February 28, 2025, near Hustopeče nad Bečvou, represents the largest accident of its kind in the Czech Republic and likely one of the most extensive benzene-related incidents worldwide. During the derailment of a freight train transporting approximately 1,020 tons of benzene, fifteen out of seventeen cisterns were engulfed in fire, and an estimated 250-400 m³ of this highly toxic substance was released into the environment. The aim of this article is to describe the course of the accident and the specific steps taken by public health authorities during the emergency response, including an assessment of health risks to the population. Particular attention is paid to the roles of the Regional Public Health Authority of the Olomouc Region and the Ministry of Health within the crisis management framework, the preventive measures adopted, and the evaluation of benzene exposure through air, potable and non-potable water, soil, and food. Monitoring results demonstrated that beyond the immediate epicentre of the accident, there was no acute threat to public health. Nevertheless, preventive measures were implemented, including a ban on entry to the affected area and a temporary ban on the consumption of fish from the adjacent reservoir. Thanks to the rapid response, intensive monitoring, and effective coordination of all stakeholders, acute health risks associated with the accident were successfully minimized; however, addressing the long-term consequences will require significant time and financial resources.

Keywords: public health protection, health protection bodies, accident, benzene, health risk assessment (HRA)

Received: February 2026; Accepted: March 2026; Published: April 2026  Show citation