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 average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, five had been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is highly poisonous and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the excess emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be hard to detect.

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

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action stage, yr after yr, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “You might want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of as much as one further cancer case for each one million exposed, in keeping with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common web benzene ranges in 2021, in keeping with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis gives vital insight into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling near these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than some other a part of the state, but the regulatory agencies liable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

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

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