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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost degree for benzene, five have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which are exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million folks within the US dwell within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and other people of coloration represented at charges almost twice that of the general inhabitants.

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

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

The EPA requires services to take action if they exceed a median 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action degree, 12 months after year, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “That you must 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 may trigger a danger of up to one further cancer case for every one million uncovered, in keeping with the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the higher the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common net benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks reside within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of shade and 47% are low-income.

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

“Individuals living near these facilities have larger [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than some other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses accountable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Undertaking notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not reflect the precise ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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