Disasters Unleased: Harvey's Pollution Legacy

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and mudslides can have a significant impact on air quality and pollution levels. Hurricane Harvey, which struck the Texas coast in 2017, is a prime example of how these events can lead to a significant release of air pollutants. The storm caused industrial facilities to shut down and restart, resulting in the emission of 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful substances over a two-week period. This is just one illustration of how disasters can worsen air pollution, with similar incidents occurring worldwide and affecting the health of millions.

Technological accidents

One of the primary ways disasters like Harvey make air pollution worse is by causing shutdowns, startups, and malfunctions in industrial facilities. For example, during Hurricane Harvey, there was a significant release of air pollutants due to these events, including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Such emissions, referred to as "excess" or "upset" emissions, are common during natural disasters and can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

In Texas, a state with comprehensive reporting requirements, data revealed that thousands of excess emissions events occur annually, with the top 5% of events releasing more pollutants than all other events combined. This highlights the skewed nature of excess emissions distribution, where a small number of incidents can have a disproportionately large impact on air quality.

Natural disasters in urban areas, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or tsunamis, often trigger technological accidents. For instance, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011 was caused by a tsunami disabling the power supply and cooling systems of the reactors. Similarly, the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 released radioactive fallout, leading to the evacuation and resettlement of thousands of people.

Additionally, disasters can lead to the release of hazardous materials from damaged pipelines, storage tanks, and processing equipment. This includes the escape of chemicals, fuels, paints, and solvents stored in households or industrial tanks, which can catch fire and affect vast areas and populations. Historical examples include the Niger Delta oil spills, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill, and the Amoco Cadiz oil spill, all of which caused significant environmental damage and harmed wildlife.

Hazardous material release

Natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey can cause hazardous material releases, which can have severe consequences for human health and the environment. Hazardous materials can be released from various sources, including industrial facilities, storage sites, and households.

Firstly, natural disasters can damage pipelines, storage tanks, and processing equipment in industries and storage sites, leading to the release of hazardous substances. For example, Hurricane Harvey caused floodwaters to inundate industrial areas in Houston, Texas, potentially spreading harmful chemicals and poisons from factories, refineries, and chemical plants.

Secondly, natural disasters can also trigger technological accidents, such as the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011, where a tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling systems, resulting in a nuclear disaster. These accidents can release hazardous materials into the environment, affecting large geographic areas and populations.

Additionally, natural disasters can cause the release of hazardous materials from households. For instance, wildfires can cause paints, solvents, and other chemicals stored in homes to catch fire, releasing toxic substances into the atmosphere and impacting the air quality over a wide area.

Furthermore, natural disasters can also lead to the shutdown, malfunction, or startup of industrial facilities, resulting in "excess" or "upset" emissions. These emissions, which occur outside routine operations, can be significant and have adverse health effects on nearby communities. For instance, a study examining excess emissions in Texas from 2002 to 2016 found that the top 5% of events released more pollutants than all other events combined, with significant health damages estimated at $150 million annually.

The release of hazardous materials during natural disasters can have severe health impacts, including cancer, birth defects, respiratory issues, and other serious illnesses. It is crucial to accurately monitor and report pollution releases during and after natural disasters to protect public health and ensure transparency.

Industrial shutdowns and startups

When Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast in August 2017, many industrial facilities had to shut down their operations. The subsequent startups, as well as accidents caused by the hurricane, led to a significant release of air pollutants. Over a period of about two weeks, data from Texas' Air Emission Event Report Database indicates that these sites released 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants. These types of emissions, resulting from startups, shutdowns, or malfunctions, are often referred to as "excess" or "upset" emissions and are particularly notable during natural disasters.

Excess emissions occur when pollution abatement systems, such as scrubbers, baghouses, or flares that curtail emissions before their release, fail to operate properly due to unexpected malfunctions, startups, or shutdowns. This results in facilities exceeding their permitted pollution limits, as outlined by the Clean Air Act (CAA). In Texas, thousands of excess emissions events occur annually, with the top 5% of events releasing more pollutants than all other events combined. For example, in 2003, a power outage caused by a lightning strike led to a Total oil refinery in Port Arthur emitting 1,296 tons of sulfur dioxide within 56 hours, almost twice its annual emissions from routine operations.

Several industrial sectors are responsible for a disproportionate amount of excess emissions. Facilities in just five sectors—natural gas liquids, refineries, industrial organic chemicals, electric services, and oil and natural gas fields—account for about 80% of all excess emissions from industrial facilities in Texas. These excess emissions have significant adverse health effects on individuals living in communities near where these emissions are released.

The release of hazardous materials during disasters is not limited to industrial shutdowns and startups. Natural disasters in urban areas can also trigger technological accidents, such as the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011, where a tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of reactors. Additionally, disasters can facilitate the release of hazardous materials stored in households, such as paints, solvents, and chemicals, or fuel stored in industrial tanks, which can affect large areas and numbers of people.

Wildfires

The magnitude of the impact of wildfires can be reduced through adequate emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery measures. Early warning systems, air quality advisories, and proactive health systems are essential for mitigating the risks associated with wildfires. Additionally, inclusive forest management plans that incorporate the knowledge of Indigenous communities are crucial for effective wildfire management.

The smoke released by wildfires can spread over large areas, affecting both rural communities and cities. The particulate matter (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke is of particular concern, as it has been linked to premature deaths and various health issues in the general population. Wildfires burning in residential areas can also contaminate water systems with known carcinogens, further exacerbating their impact on human health and the environment.

The costs associated with wildfires are substantial, including the loss of homes, infrastructure, and firefighting expenses. Since 2000, at least 15 forest fires in the United States have caused over $1 billion in damages each. The 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons were particularly destructive, with damages exceeding $40 billion in total costs. These fires disrupted transportation, communications, water supply, and power and gas services, affecting millions of people.

While wildfires can have beneficial ecological effects, their impact on human populations can be disastrous. Wildfires encroaching on populated areas can result in significant losses and pose risks to life, property, and public health. The growing number of people living in wildland-urban interfaces increases the vulnerability to the adverse effects of wildfires. Therefore, preparedness and societal adaptations, such as improved air filtration in buildings and public alert systems, are crucial to minimizing the impact of wildfires on human health and safety.

Inequality and poverty

Hurricane Harvey, which struck the Texas coast in August 2017, caused severe flooding and wind damage. While natural disasters such as hurricanes affect everyone, they disproportionately impact marginalized communities, exacerbating existing social inequalities and poverty.

The burden of air pollution is not evenly distributed; poorer individuals and certain racial and ethnic minority groups often face higher exposure to pollutants and suffer more severe health consequences. Studies have consistently shown that non-white populations, particularly African Americans and Latinos, are at a higher risk of adverse health effects from air pollution. For example, a 2008 study of Washington, DC, found a correlation between high Medicaid enrollment, low-income areas, and worsened asthma due to poor air quality. Similarly, a 2016 study in New Jersey revealed that long-term exposure to particle pollution increased the risk of premature death in predominantly African American communities with lower median incomes.

Disasters like Hurricane Harvey replicate and deepen these social inequalities. Low-income individuals are more likely to reside in hazard-prone areas, lack the financial resources to invest in risk-reducing measures, and face greater challenges in recovery efforts. For instance, in Harris County, Texas, during Hurricane Harvey, per capita damages for Latina/o individuals from climate change-attributed flooding were estimated to be significantly higher than for other demographic groups. Additionally, low-income neighborhoods often bear the brunt of excess emissions from industrial facilities, which release large amounts of pollutants during shutdowns, startups, and accidents caused by hurricanes.

The impact of disasters on poverty and inequality is complex. While disasters can lead to impoverishment and slow down poverty reduction efforts, they can also inspire altruism and solidarity within communities. The ability to recover from disasters varies significantly between different socio-economic groups, with low-income households often facing more significant relative impacts. Furthermore, the geography of inequality is evident across regions, countries, and within cities, indicating that vulnerability to disasters is closely linked to economic disparities.

Addressing inequality and poverty in the context of disasters requires comprehensive approaches. While some progress has been made globally in poverty reduction and improving social welfare, local governments in many countries still struggle to meet the needs of their citizens. Investing in social protection, ensuring equitable access to resources, and implementing policies that reduce vulnerability among marginalized communities are crucial steps toward mitigating the disproportionate impact of disasters on impoverished and disadvantaged groups.

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