Climate change threatens to unearth US nuclear waste abroad

Rising sea levels and melting ice sheets may expose nuclear waste from U.S. projects in Greenland and the Marshall Islands, posing environmental and health risks.

Anita Hofschneider reports for Grist.

In short:

A Government Accountability Office report highlights the risk of climate change disturbing nuclear waste in Greenland and the Marshall Islands.
The waste includes radioactive material and carcinogenic chemicals, potentially impacting local food chains and health.
Disagreements persist between local governments and the U.S. Department of Energy regarding the handling and communication of these risks.

Key quote:

"The possibility to influence the environment is there, which could further affect the food chain and further affect the people living in the area as well."

— Hjalmar Dahl, president of Inuit Circumpolar Council Greenland

Why this matters:

Nuclear waste has left the Marshall Islands and parts of Greenland as environmental sacrifice zones. Peter Dykstra chronicled several such sites for EHN, noting how climate change-induced phenomena like sea level rise and permafrost melt are exacerbating risks to human health and the environment.

grist.org

Climate change threatens to unearth US nuclear waste abroad

‘Wastelands’ no more: India charts a future for its grasslands

Shell’s hidden climate knowledge under scrutiny as court battle looms

Can flying ever really be sustainable?

Opinion: Pesticides aren’t just making us sick, they’re cooking the planet

4 things to know about cyclospora and climate change

The coal industry gave Trump a wish list. He’s checking items off it

Amid the artificial intelligence boom, coal returns — with a familiar cost

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.