Natural and Technologic Hazardous Material Releases During and After Natural Disasters: A Review

Authors

Stacy Young, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE (Mailstop E-23), Atlanta, GA
Lina Balluz, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE (Mailstop E-23), Atlanta, GAFollow
Josephine Malilay, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE (Mailstop E-23), Atlanta, GA

Date of this Version

2004

Comments

Published in Science of the Total Environment 322 (2004) 3–20.

Abstract

Natural disasters may be powerful and prominent mechanisms of direct and indirect hazardous material (hazmat) releases. Hazardous materials that are released as the result of a technologic malfunction precipitated by a natural event are referred to as natural-technologic or na-tech events. Na-tech events pose unique environmental and human hazards. Disaster-associated hazardous material releases are of concern, given increases in population density and accelerating industrial development in areas subject to natural disasters. These trends increase the probability of catastrophic future disasters and the potential for mass human exposure to hazardous materials released during disasters. This systematic review summarizes direct and indirect disaster-associated releases, as well as environmental contamination and adverse human health effects that have resulted from natural disaster-related hazmat incidents. Thorough examination of historic disaster-related hazmat releases can be used to identify future threats and improve mitigation and prevention efforts.