Citation

Anenberg SC, Kalman C. Geohealth 2019; 3(5): 122-126.

Affiliation

Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University Washington DC USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Geophysical Union, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1029/2019GH000197

PMID

32159036

PMCID

PMC7038901

Abstract

Many chemical facilities are located in low-lying coastal areas and vulnerable to damage from hurricanes, flooding, and erosion, which are increasing with climate change. Extreme weather can trigger industrial disasters, including explosions, fires, and major chemical releases, as well as chronic chemical leakage into air, water, and soil. We identified 872 highly hazardous chemical facilities within 50 miles of the hurricane-prone U.S. Gulf Coast. Approximately 4,374,000 people, 1,717 schools, and 98 medical facilities were within 1.5 miles of these facilities. Public health risks from colocated extreme weather, chemical facilities, and vulnerable populations are potentially disastrous and growing under climate change.

©2019. The Authors.

Language: en

Keywords

chemical safety; climate change; extreme weather; public health