This book describes the proceedings of a conference organised by the Commission of the European Communties at which experts from a number of countries, and particularly from within the EC, exchanged information on the current situation. The opportunity was taken to explore the considerable research effort which is going on throughout the world in the improvement of system for emergency planning. Attention was also drawn to areas where difficulties still exist, for example in prediciting the consequences of an accident, the complexities of communication problems and the difficulties arising from involvement of the public.