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

A dozen US oil refineries last 12 months exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, five 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 Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's highly poisonous and unstable when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million individuals in the US dwell inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of colour represented at charges almost twice that of the general population.

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

Nearly half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Venture defines as a long-term potential well being menace.

The EPA requires amenities to take action in the event that they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “action stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action level, yr after year, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press conference. “You'll want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might trigger a threat of up to one additional most cancers case for each a million exposed, based on the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best average internet benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 people stay inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation provides vital perception into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Folks living close to these services have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than any other a part of the state, but the regulatory companies accountable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

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

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