The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the number of sites in need of decontamination at over 350,000. In the EU, figures range from 300,000 to 1.5 million, based on whether potentially or confirmed polluted sites are included, as the definition of a polluted site varies from country to country. In France, pollution at 3,735 sites could constitute a nuisance or permanent public health or environmental risk. The cost of rehabilitating polluted sites is estimated at $250 billion in the United States and €59 to €109 billion in the EU.
Locations