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

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

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

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's highly poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people within the US live inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of color represented at charges practically twice that of the general inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or near 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 Mission defines as a long-term potential well being risk.

The EPA requires facilities to take motion if they exceed an average 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 really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “You want to start 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 danger of as much as one additional most cancers case for each one million uncovered, in accordance with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation provides important insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling close to these amenities have higher [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than another part of the state, but the regulatory agencies answerable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not mirror the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

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