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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's extremely toxic and volatile when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million people within the US live inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of coloration represented at charges nearly 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 Challenge defines as a long-term potential well being menace.

The EPA requires amenities to take motion in the event that they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the motion degree, 12 months after year, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press convention. “You'll want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could cause a risk of up to one extra cancer case for every a million exposed, according to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest average web benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides necessary perception into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than some other a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies chargeable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not mirror the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

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