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

A dozen US oil refineries last 12 months exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

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

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's highly poisonous and unstable when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which are hard to detect.

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

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

Practically half of these refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Undertaking defines as a long-term potential well being threat.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action degree, 12 months after yr, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “It's essential to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of up to one further cancer case for every a million uncovered, according to the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest average internet benzene levels in 2021, according to the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 individuals live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation gives important perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Folks dwelling near these services have higher [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than some other part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not reflect the actual ranges of benzene within the communities.

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