Thousands of hazardous sites across the United States face a significant risk of being inundated by rising sea levels by the turn of the century if heat-trapping pollution from fossil fuels remains unchecked, a new study warns. This poses serious health risks to nearby communities.
Researchers pinpointed 5,500 locations that store, emit, or handle sewage, trash, oil, gas, and other dangerous materials, all vulnerable to coastal flooding by 2100. A substantial portion of this risk is already unavoidable due to historical emissions. Worryingly, over half of these sites are projected to face flood risks much sooner, potentially by 2050.
