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

A dozen US oil refineries final yr exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

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

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is highly toxic and risky when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are laborious to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people in the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of color represented at rates practically twice that of the final population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action level, 12 months after 12 months, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “You need to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of as much as one extra most cancers case for every one million exposed, based on the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, based on the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation offers vital perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“People dwelling close to these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than some other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez said.

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

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