US oil refineries spewing cancer-causing benzene into communities, report finds | Air pollution

A dozen US oil refineries last year exceeded the federal restrict on common benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, 5 were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's highly toxic and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million folks in the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and folks of coloration represented at charges nearly twice that of the final inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or near the location, in any other case generally known as the fence-line.

Nearly half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Undertaking defines as a long-term potential health threat.

The EPA requires facilities to take motion if they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action stage, yr after year, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “You might want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could cause a danger of up to one further most cancers case for every one million exposed, in response to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common web benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis gives essential insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Folks residing near these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than any other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't replicate the actual levels of benzene inside the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't instantly reply to a request for comment.