Rising seas threaten to unleash toxic contamination from thousands of hazardous sites across america

Along the industrial shores of San Francisco Bay, Luna Angulo surveys a landscape where decades of chemical manufacturing have left a dangerous legacy. Behind razor wire and warning signs, former chemical plants sit on contaminated marshlands—a toxic time bomb that climate change is about to detonate. As sea levels continue to rise due to global warming, these hazardous sites represent just a fraction of thousands across the United States that face imminent flooding.

The threat is both immediate and far-reaching. When storm surges and rising waters breach the barriers around contaminated sites, they can spread dangerous chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxic substances into surrounding communities and ecosystems. This scenario puts America’s most vulnerable populations—often low-income communities and communities of color who live near industrial areas—at the greatest risk of exposure to health-threatening pollutants.

For Angulo, who witnessed a refinery explosion that transformed her community, the looming crisis feels personal. Her story reflects a nationwide challenge where the consequences of past industrial practices collide with the realities of our changing climate. As temperatures continue to rise and sea levels climb, environmental officials and community advocates are racing against time to address these contaminated sites before flooding turns local pollution problems into regional environmental disasters.

The convergence of climate change and industrial contamination represents a new chapter in environmental justice, where the communities that have already borne the burden of toxic pollution now face the additional threat of climate-driven contamination spread.