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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

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

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that is highly poisonous and risky when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million people in the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and folks of color represented at rates 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 site, in any other case referred to as the fence-line.

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action stage, 12 months after yr, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “It's good to start 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 may cause a threat of as much as one extra cancer case for each a million uncovered, according to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best average net benzene ranges in 2021, according to the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of color and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis offers necessary insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“People living near these amenities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than another part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies responsible for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not mirror the precise levels of benzene within the communities.

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