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

A dozen US oil refineries last year exceeded the federal limit 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 new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's extremely toxic and volatile when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be onerous to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or close to the positioning, otherwise generally known as the fence-line.

Practically half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential well being threat.

The EPA requires services to take motion in the event that they exceed a median 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action degree, 12 months after yr, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “You should start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a danger of up to one further cancer case for each one million uncovered, in response to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation provides important insight into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Folks living close to these amenities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than some other part of the state, but the regulatory companies accountable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't mirror the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

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