The Duke University Superfund Research Center Analytical Chemistry Core, as well as the Research Translation and Community Engagement Cores are working to respond to environmental health questions and community needs related to Hurricane Florence, which struck North Carolina in September 2018.
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After a hurricane, people are more likely to come in contact with chemical hazards. This page offers information to help you protect your health after a flood event.
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Potential Health Risks |
Sources of Contamination |
Action Steps for Communities |
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Health Risks
After a hurricane, there is an increased risk that the public may be exposed contaminants that can harm health, including both biological contaminants (such as bacteria or viruses) and chemical contaminants (such as heavy metals, like lead, or pesticides), that can enter the environment due to the movement of materials from wind damage or flooding. The Duke University Superfund Research Center is focused on the long-term, low dose exposures to chemical contaminants, rather than biological contaminants, so this page does not contain information on how to reduce health risks from bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens that can also cause concern immediately following a hurricane.
What are the health risks of exposure to chemical contaminants after a flooding event? Health risks associated with exposure to contaminants depend on several factors:
- How a person is exposed, or the pathway of exposure;
- The type of contaminant they are exposed to;
- How much they are exposed to, and over what length of time;
- Who that person is, and how their characteristics affect health risks. For example, young children, and pregnant or nursing mothers are more vulnerable to health risks from bacterial contaminants and chemical contaminants.
Being aware of potential sources of contamination is an important step towards determining specific health concerns. See the next section for more information on this topic.
For more on the health effects associated with particular contaminants, visit the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/
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Potential Sources of Contamination
What are some potential sources of chemical contamination during and after a flooding event? In order to determine potential health risks, it is important to first be aware of possible sources of contamination that may have left behind chemicals in soil and water after the hurricane.
When contaminated sites are flooded, it can cause chemical contaminants at normally contained sites to disperse through the environment, and they can end up in places where people normally live, work, and play.
Simply being in a flood zone or close to a possible source of contamination, however, does not necessarily mean that your area has been contaminated.
You can’t see or smell most chemical contaminants, so ultimately the best way to know for sure what is in your soil, water, or other media, is to perform testing for contaminants if you have a serious concern. Click here for a list of options for testing contaminated soil at private labs in North Carolina, listed by contaminant type.
Try using the Duke University Superfund Research Center’s map to identify potential sources of contamination near you, and to help you narrow down which contaminants to test for if you have a concern. Click here to access the tool!
This map was created as a response to flooding after Hurricane Florence in September 2018 to compile publicly-available data about potential sources of contamination and known hurricane-related incidents along with flood data for North Carolina. The map is not a comprehensive picture of all potential sources of contamination in the state. It merely offers a snapshot of publicly available data as of early October in 2018.
The purpose of the map is to raise awareness about chemical contaminants that may have entered the environment during a flood, and to help individuals think through methods for reducing or preventing potential exposure to harmful chemicals. It is based on exposure screening tools like the Environmental Protection Agency’s EJ SCREEN tool and this map from the NC Department of Environmental Quality. It may also inform your decision about whether to pursue additional testing for contaminants, and which specific contaminants to test for.
The flood map layer was compiled based on data from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory and the European Union’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service to form a single flood inundation estimate.
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List of Common Sources of Contamination to Consider
Below is a list of some common potential sources of contamination in our communities that you will encounter on our map. These potential sources are meant to raise awareness about the possibility that chemical contaminants may have entered the environment during a flood and help you think through ways to reduce exposure in the long term.
Click each site type below to expand its description.
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[perch_spoiler title=”Housing built before 1978“]If there are houses on or near your property that were built before 1978, you may be concerned about potential contamination from lead paint and an increased risk of exposure to lead paint, even though lead paint was banned from use prior to this date. These sources are of special concern to children and pregnant women due to the developmental risks from ingesting lead particles. Our map shows the percent of housing built pre-1960 per census block, an indicator of lead paint use and chipping of the paint into soil near homes. Metals like lead stick around for a long time in soils and don’t break down easily. (Source: EPA EJScreen)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites“]TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air or water, or placed in some type of land disposal. (Source: EPA) [/perch_spoiler]
[perch_spoiler title=”Superfund sites“]These are sites deemed hazardous to human health due to chemical contamination. Cleanup of Superfund sites is managed by the EPA. (Source: EPA National Priorities List)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Brownfields“]Former industrial sites that are negotiated for beneficial reuse by developers. The NC Brownfields Property Reuse Act provides a mechanism for developers to clean up a facility to make the site suitable for reuse, rather than cleaning up to regulatory standards, which is the requirement of parties responsible for the contamination. (Source: NC DEQ)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Dry cleaning facilities“]Facilities where chemicals used in dry-cleaning have contaminated the soil. The sites are under various stages of cleanup. Dry cleaning facilities can be a source of chemical contamination including a chemical called TCE. Contaminants from these sites often travel in a directed “plume” underground. (Source: NC DEQ DSCA)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Underground storage tanks (RUST)“]Underground storage tanks often store petroleum compounds. Our map shows Underground Storage Tank (UST) incidents for High and Intermediate Risk tank locations (Source: NC DEQ) Note: See NC DEQ and EPA resources for owners and operators of underground storage tanks after a flooding event. [/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities“]A grouping together of facilities that handle one or more activities within treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. (Source: EPA)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Pre-regulatory landfills“]Locations of non-permitted landfills that closed prior to January 1, 1983 when waste disposal permitting regulations commenced. Locations are on or near entrance of site. (Source: NC DEQ)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Major roadways“]Runoff from roadways may contain petroleum-based compounds, lead, and other chemicals. [/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Coal ash storage ponds“]Coal ash is a known source of mercury, arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, radioactive elements, and more. Coal ash is the solid residue that remains after coal has been burned, so it can contain concentrated and potentially more toxic versions of the chemicals you might find in coal. (Source: NC DEQ)[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Agricultural lands, or land applied with “biosolids”“]Agricultural lands are applied with pesticides, fertilizers, manure, and can deposit both chemical and biological contaminants in nearby areas due to flooding or runoff from agricultural fields.[/perch_spoiler][perch_spoiler title=”Places where debris such as treated wood is being burned for disposal“]This story from Coastal Review Online explains why burning treated wood debris after a storm can lead to harmful exposure to toxic fumes. [/perch_spoiler]
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Additional Flood Mapping Resources
Here are some additional maps from various agencies that may help to inform decision making after Hurricane Florence. These layers are not included on the Duke University Superfund Research Center mapping tool, but can provide more detail on areas that were flooded.
- NASA Satellite Imagery Flood Proxy Map: Provides a one-time snapshot from before Florence and on September 14, 2018 with remotely-captured satellite pictures of flooding the day that the hurricane made landfall in North Carolina.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Remote Sensing Satellite Images: This database shows the extent of flooding between September 15-September 22, 2018 using satellite images that have been blended together. The NOAA data is hosted on the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) website.
- Google Crisis Response images includes aerial imagery collected by Google to respond to Florence that used Google satellites for real-time pictures. It may include more fine-scale detail of structures than some of the layers above. It also includes a list of shelters and other post-hurricane recovery sites.
- This page by the International Space Charter on Major Disasters lists several good Florence-related mapping resources near the bottom of the page if you are looking for even more information on flooded areas.
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Post-Hurricane Action Steps for Communities
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Communities Near Former Industrial Sites |
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Health Risks
The primary risk scenario that occurs near former industrial sites after a hurricane happens when floodwater causes the spread of industrial chemicals into soil, water, or air. Contamination may also result from fires or accidental releases that cause airborne emissions and deposition into soils.
People may be exposed to contaminants from former industrial sites in a number of ways, including accidentally eating soil through hand to mouth contact or drinking contaminated water, touching contaminated soil or water, or breathing in contaminated air.
What Can I Do?
- Report any spills or incidents at former industrial sites to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, or your local health department.
- Always protective equipment when cleaning up after a flood, especially if you live near a former industrial site. Visit this Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guide for on proper protective equipment for cleanup efforts.
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Community and Home Gardeners |
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Health Risks
- Contaminated soils: After a hurricane, the main risk to health in community gardens comes from floodwaters that can cause pollution to seep into water or soil. Chemical (and biological) contaminants from surrounding areas can inundate gardens and seep into soils. Some contaminants will stick around in soil, while others are water soluble and will more easily wash away.
- Contaminated irrigation sources: If city water or private wells were impacted by the hurricane, then so is the water you will be using to irrigate the garden. Check local advisories – if there is a “boil” advisory for your local water source, wait until the advisory is cancelled to use this water source to irrigate food crops.
- Contaminated crops: Crops exposed to floodwaters may be exposed to bacterial contaminants. See the “What Can I Do” section below for resources to help you deal with the risks from biological contamination of produce.
What Can I Do?
- Stay safe while cleaning up! Avoid contact with standing flood waters. Wash your hands frequently during and after garden cleanup. Remove all clothes and shoes used during garden cleanup before entering homes.
- Think before you compost! Don’t compost material that may have been contaminated by floodwaters. Discard and do not use any compost piles that were flooded.
- Avoid the risk of bacterial infection and contamination. If food crops have come into contact with floodwater, use gloves to discard them. This is the most conservative (safest) approach, but it is not the only guidance you will find available.
- [perch_highlight]Watch this webinar hosted by NC State Extension on managing biological and chemical contamination in the garden after a flood: https://youtu.be/8MS3D2wN2nA[/perch_highlight]
- Find additional resources from NC State Extension here: https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/weather-2/handling-storm-damage-in-the-landscape/
- The Food and Drug Administration’s Guidance for Industry on Evaluating the Safety of Flood-Affected Food Crops for Human Consumption also has some helpful guidance on assessing the risk from flood-contaminated crops.
- Document, in case concerns arise later. Take pictures, but don’t touch, any substances that you don’t recognize that may present concern of contamination. Remember that just because you don’t see visible signs of contamination, doesn’t mean that there is not a health concern! You may be able to share your photos with authorities or experts for more information (online or otherwise) for more input on possible risks.
- What if I may have come in contact with chemicals? If you think you may have come into contact with toxic chemicals, contact the National Poison Control Center hotline 24/7 by calling 1-800-222-1222. The CDC’s Emergency Preparedness guidebook provides general safety guidelines for cleanup after a hurricane, and they have some helpful tips available on protecting yourself from chemicals after a natural disaster.
- Lead paint concerns: If there are houses on or near your garden property that were built before 1978, there is a potential for contamination from lead paint. If you suspect you need cleanup for lead contamination, find a certified lead professional here: https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/lead/accredited.cfm
- Check for sources of possible contamination in the garden that may have been impacted by the weather event. Check containers of pesticides, household chemicals, oil, fertilizers, or machinery that were stored in or around the garden that may have spilled into the garden or gotten into flood waters.
- What if there has been a chemical spill? If you are concerned about a spill, call your local health department or the NC Department of Environmental Quality to help you dispose of these chemicals safely. If inundation has been severe, containers may have traveled from offsite.
- Pesticide safety: The National Pesticide Information Center offers fact sheets on reducing pesticide exposure risks when preparing for a natural disaster and after a disaster occurs.
- Get your soil tested: If you have an idea of what contaminants may be present in your soils, you can get your soil tested for contaminants. Find labs for testing specific contaminants at this link: https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfund/gardens/#link5
- Use the Duke Superfund Center’s Should I Be Concerned fact sheet as a guide, located on this website: https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfund/gardens/ or email superfund@duke.edu for assistance in determining possible labs to use locally, and deciding what to test for.
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People Who Catch and Eat Fish |
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Health Risks
The primary risk associated with consuming fish from local waters is the ingestion of contaminated fish tissue due to the potential for harmful contaminants to come in contact with the fish following a flooding event. As of October 2018, most waterways in North Carolina were affected in some way by floodwaters. Since chemical contaminants take time to build up in fish tissue, however, brief events, such as flooding, usually do not affect chemical contaminants stored in fish tissue.
The primary pathways to exposure in this scenario include eating, or possibly touching, contaminated fish tissue. The contaminants that are most frequently of concern if eaten include mercury, PCBs, and dioxins.
What Can I Do?
- Check local fish consumption advisories provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services by visiting bit.ly/eatsafefish With no statewide advisory updates after the hurricanes, areas impacted by floods should continue to follow advisories from before the hurricane.
- If you consume shellfish, check updates on shellfish consumption provided by the NCDEQ-Marine Fisheries Division by visiting their page on Shellfish Polluted Areas. Shellfish are more likely to have an increased level of contaminants immediately after a flooding event since they feed by filtering water. Once water quality standards are met, shellfish beds will reopen.
- Do not consume fish from a “fish kill.” Massive die-offs of fish are a common occurrence after the hurricane due to low oxygen levels in waterbodies) due the risk of bacterial and chemical contamination.
- Properly prepare fish for consumption. In general it is still a best practice to always properly clean, fillet, and cook fish.
- For more information on the pathways and health risks of these contaminants, see the Duke University Superfund Research Center’s webpage on our work with an EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving grant team and our fact sheet on Mercury in Fish.
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Images:
“Health risks” icon: medical by Mello from the Noun Project
“Potential sources” icon: Map Marker by Magicon from the Noun Project
“Former industrial sites” icon: Factory by Isabel Martínez Isabel from the Noun Project
“Community gardeners” icon: Community Garden by Krisada from the Noun Project
“People Who Catch and Eat Fish” icon: Fishing by indra anis from the Noun Project