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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost degree 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 Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and volatile when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be hard to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million people within the US dwell inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of shade represented at rates almost twice that of the final inhabitants.

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.

Nearly half of these refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action degree, 12 months after yr, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press conference. “You have to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a risk of up to one extra cancer case for every one million uncovered, in response to the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest average net benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 individuals stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of shade 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, at the press convention.

“Individuals dwelling near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses accountable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

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

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