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

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is extremely toxic and risky when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be laborious to detect.

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

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

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

The EPA requires facilities to take motion if they exceed a median 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “action degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion level, yr after yr, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “You want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of up to one extra most cancers case for every a million uncovered, based on the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest average internet benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of coloration and 47% are low-income.

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

“People living close to these services have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than any other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies accountable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't reflect the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

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