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

A dozen US oil refineries last year exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, five have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

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

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million people in the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of shade represented at charges almost twice that of the overall population.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or close to the site, otherwise often called the fence-line.

Practically half of these refineries released benzene ranges 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 action if they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “action degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, year after yr, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press convention. “You should 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 danger of up to one additional most cancers case for each one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 folks live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of colour and 47% are low-income.

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

“People residing close to these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than another a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies accountable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't replicate the actual levels of benzene within the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't immediately respond to a request for remark.