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 common benzene emissions.

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

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

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million folks within the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and people of shade represented at charges practically twice that of the final population.

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

Almost half of those refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Project 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 degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action level, yr after year, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “You should begin 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 could cause a threat of as much as one additional cancer case for each one 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 best average net benzene levels in 2021, in line with the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 people stay inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“People dwelling near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than any other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

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

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly respond to a request for comment.