Contamination from flooded industrial sites during major hurricanes is a growing concern

The destructive force of hurricanes Helene and Milton have brought the risk of toxic industrial releases back to the fore.

James R. Elliott, Dominic Boyer and Phylicia Lee Brown write for The Conversation.

In short:

Hundreds of industrial facilities in Milton’s path, including the center of Florida's phosphate mining and sites manufacturing rubber, plastics and fiberglass, housed toxic chemicals.
Previous hurricanes like Helene and Ian caused severe environmental contamination from chemical spills, with significant health risks to nearby communities.
Communities often remain unaware of these risks due to weak disclosure laws and delayed notifications of toxic releases during hurricanes.

Key quote:

“This limited public information on rising chemical threats from our changing climate should be front-page news every hurricane season.”

— Rice University’s Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience

Why this matters:

Just a few weeks ago floodwaters from Hurricane Helene breached factories and released chemicals into nearby neighborhoods. Many of Florida's industrial areas are stocked with chemicals used in making everything from boats to plastic products, all of which can be washed into local water systems. Read more: Flood survivors find common ground in a divided nation.

theconversation.com

Credit: Troy Mortier/Unsplash

Singapore ups flying costs to fund sustainable aviation fuel

Singapore is piloting the world’s first sustainable aviation fuel levy. It will slightly raise prices for airline passengers and cargo carriers flying to and from the city-state of 6 million people, home to Southeast Asia’s busiest airport.

Read the Full Article on

apnews.com

Contamination from flooded industrial sites during major hurricanes is a growing concern

Retired EV batteries scored a new gig: bolstering Texas’ grid

With court relief, work resumes on Virginia offshore wind

Singapore ups flying costs to fund sustainable aviation fuel

Opinion: Federal climate rollback raises new risks for Wisconsin’s energy future

Trump’s coal revival keeps Michigan plant open at high cost to residents

Pennsylvania spent big on a 'petrochemical renaissance.' It never arrived

Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing

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.