A new study warns that if heat-trapping pollution from coal, oil, and gas continues unchecked, thousands of hazardous sites along the U.S. coast could face flooding by the end of the century, posing serious health risks to nearby communities.
Scope of the Risk
Researchers identified 5,500 sites that store or handle sewage, trash, oil, gas, and other hazards. Many of these risks are already locked in from past emissions, with over half the sites projected to face flood threats as soon as 2050. Low-income and marginalized communities are disproportionately at risk. Even moderate reductions in emissions could reduce the number of threatened sites by roughly 300 by 2100.
Study Approach
The team analyzed hazardous sites near the coasts of Puerto Rico and 23 states, calculating each site’s flood risk using historical sea level data and projected rises for 2050 and 2100 under different emissions scenarios. Communities within 1 kilometer (0.621 miles) of high-risk sites were flagged for potential exposure.
Potential Health Impacts
Flooding near industrial sites could expose residents to bacteria, heavy metals, and other chemicals. Health risks range from gastrointestinal illnesses and skin irritation to long-term organ damage and reproductive effects, especially for vulnerable populations.
Expert Insights
Lara J. Cushing, co-author and associate professor at UCLA, emphasized that “we do have time to respond and try to mitigate the risks and also increase resilience.” Experts not involved in the study noted the importance of integrating climate risk into hazard mitigation planning at local, state, and federal levels.
Locations Most at Risk
Nearly 80% of the sites are concentrated in Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, California, New York, and Massachusetts. The sites include fossil fuel ports and terminals (44%), power plants (30%), refineries (24%), and sewage treatment facilities (22%).
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