Joseph Louvar, Wayne State chemistry professor, was quoted on the safety of industrial plants that handle toxins such as those at EQ Resource Recovery Inc. in Romulus , the facility where massive explosions occurred last week. Michigan ranks fifth nationwide in the release of toxic chemicals, sending 417 million pounds up smokestacks, down pipes or away on trucks in 2003. The federal government requires facilities like EQ to be inspected every other year and the state\'s Department of Environmental Quality makes unannounced inspections of the plants quarterly. Some observers say the industry has vastly improved safety. \"In general, they do really well,\" Louvar said.