Extreme Weather, Chemical Facilities, and Vulnerable Communities in the U.S. Gulf Coast: A Disastrous Combination.

chemical safety climate change extreme weather public health

Journal

GeoHealth
ISSN: 2471-1403
Titre abrégé: Geohealth
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101706476

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
May 2019
Historique:
received: 21 03 2019
revised: 02 04 2019
accepted: 03 04 2019
entrez: 12 3 2020
pubmed: 12 3 2020
medline: 12 3 2020
Statut: epublish

Résumé

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.

Identifiants

pubmed: 32159036
doi: 10.1029/2019GH000197
pii: GH2106
pmc: PMC7038901
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

122-126

Informations de copyright

©2019. The Authors.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare no actual or perceived conflicts of interests.

Références

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Auteurs

Susan C Anenberg (SC)

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

Casey Kalman (C)

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

Classifications MeSH