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

A dozen US oil refineries last 12 months exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and unstable when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million people in the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of colour represented at rates practically 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.

Nearly half of those refineries released benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Project defines as a long-term potential well being menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the motion degree, 12 months after year, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press conference. “You should begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could cause a risk of as much as one extra cancer case for every a million exposed, in response to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

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

“This analysis offers essential perception into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Folks living near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other part of the state, but the regulatory agencies liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not reflect the actual ranges of benzene inside the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly reply to a request for comment.