Potentially polluting shipwrecks pose a significant hazard to the environment, marine life, and human health. Wrecks which contain oil and whose hulls are corroding are being assessed for their damage and mitigation potential. Underwater munitions that were dumped at sea during the World Wars are also a threat to the marine environment. MMC is currently working on developing a course for undergraduate students that addresses these topics. The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report in 2013 that identifies shipwrecks that are at risk for pollution events.
