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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, 5 were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's highly poisonous and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means that are exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million people within the US live inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of shade represented at rates nearly twice that of the overall inhabitants.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion stage, yr after 12 months, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief 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 exposure to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a danger of as much as one extra most cancers case for every one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best average web benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation gives vital insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“People living close to these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than some other part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses responsible for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not reflect the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

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