this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2024
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[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

One thing they didn’t mention but I’ve seen on the news before is that flood waters often contain carcinogenic/other polluting chemicals leeched from the ground, and other waste streams. How much of that gets left in people’s soil (or wells if they have a well system), or even in their house after rebuilding?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 weeks ago

With diffusion being a foundational aspect of solutes mixing in solutions, the water should have an even distribution of the contaminants. However, the tidal force of water associated with a storm surge probably throws a wrench in the plan here. But generally, it's evenly spread throughout and will be found in relatively even amounts everywhere the water settles.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 weeks ago

It'll be in the air too. Anything in the soil will become dust in the air for years. It'll get kicked into the air every time a lawn is mowed, a hole gets dug, a dry season occurs, etc