Rising Sea Level Threatens Hazardous Industrial Sites In California

New research has revealed that hundreds of industrial sites along the California coastline, such as oil and gas refineries and sewage-treatment plants, could be severely affected by flooding from rising sea levels, in the event of worsening climate change.

When industrial facilities are inundated by floods, dangerous substances and contaminants can escape and pollute the air, land and groundwater.

The study, published in the journal ’Environmental Science & Technology’, was carried out by researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles and Berkeley, as well as Climate Central.

If planet-warming pollution continues to rise without intervention, 129 industrial sites are projected to be at risk of flooding by 2050, according to the study. Furthermore, marginalized populations often reside around these sites; the elderly, people of color, and the unemployed in disadvantaged communities living very near these sites will be greatly impacted by flooding. By the end of the century, the number of hazardous sites at risk could increase to 423, and the low-income communities around these sites are also expected to grow.

The hazardous sites identified in the study are mostly located in the vicinity of major metropolitan areas on the coast.

The researchers used data from various government and academic databases, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s Facility Registry Service, to improve their scientific findings.