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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum level for benzene, five were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and risky when exposed to air. Much of the excess emissions come by leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US live inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of coloration represented at charges practically twice that of the overall population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action degree, 12 months after yr, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press conference. “You could start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a threat of up to one further most cancers case for each one million uncovered, according to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest common net benzene levels in 2021, in line with the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks residing close to these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than every other a part of the state, yet the regulatory companies liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

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

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