US oil refineries spewing cancer-causing benzene into communities, report finds | Air 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 degree for benzene, 5 were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

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

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of coloration represented at rates almost twice that of the overall inhabitants.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action level, 12 months after yr, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press conference. “You'll want to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a threat of up to one additional cancer case for every a million uncovered, in response to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best common web benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks dwelling near these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory companies liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't replicate the precise levels of benzene throughout the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not immediately reply to a request for remark.