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

A dozen US oil refineries last yr exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost degree for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Project revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's highly toxic and volatile when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of shade represented at charges practically twice that of the general inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or close to the location, otherwise referred to as the fence-line.

Almost half of these refineries released benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Mission defines as a long-term potential health risk.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the motion stage, 12 months after 12 months, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press convention. “You have to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of as much as one extra most cancers case for each a million uncovered, according to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the health threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best common net benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people reside within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“People dwelling near these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than another a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies liable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't reflect the precise ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not immediately respond to a request for remark.