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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, four 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 highly toxic and volatile when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million folks in the US stay inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of coloration represented at rates practically 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 often called the fence-line.

Almost half of these refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Undertaking defines as a long-term potential well being threat.

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

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

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might trigger a danger of as much as one extra cancer case for each one million exposed, according to the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best common internet benzene levels in 2021, according to the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis offers important perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press convention.

“People living near these services have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory companies liable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't replicate the precise ranges of benzene within the communities.

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