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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is highly poisonous and volatile when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means that are laborious to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US stay inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of color represented at charges practically twice that of the overall 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 launched benzene ranges 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 action if they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “action level” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, year after year, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press convention. “You could 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 could trigger a threat of as much as one additional cancer case for each one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best average net benzene ranges in 2021, in response to the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation supplies essential perception into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Individuals residing near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than another part of the state, but the regulatory agencies answerable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

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

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