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

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

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

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is highly toxic and volatile when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are hard to detect.

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

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action stage, year after 12 months, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “It's essential begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a danger of up to one further cancer case for each a million uncovered, based on the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common web benzene levels in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 people stay inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of colour and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks dwelling near these facilities have higher [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses answerable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't replicate the actual levels of benzene throughout the communities.

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