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

A dozen US oil refineries final year exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's extremely toxic and unstable when uncovered to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be hard to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million folks in the US stay inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and people of coloration represented at charges practically twice that of the final inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or near the site, otherwise often called the fence-line.

Nearly half of those refineries launched benzene ranges 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 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 degree, year after year, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press convention. “You could begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of up to one additional cancer case for every a million exposed, in response to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best average internet benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides necessary insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press convention.

“Individuals dwelling near these services have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than every other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies responsible for protecting us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not mirror the precise ranges of benzene within the communities.

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