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

A dozen US oil refineries last 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, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's highly toxic and unstable when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million people in the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of coloration represented at rates practically twice that of the general population.

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

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

The EPA requires facilities 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 below the motion level, yr after yr, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “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 might cause a threat of up to one further most cancers case for each one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest average net benzene levels in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides essential perception into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Folks dwelling close to these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than some other a part of the state, but the regulatory businesses accountable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not mirror the actual ranges of benzene inside the communities.

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