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

A dozen US oil refineries final year exceeded the federal restrict on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's extremely toxic and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be laborious to detect.

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

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

Nearly half of these refineries released 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 motion if they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion level, 12 months after year, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press convention. “You could start 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 risk of up to one extra cancer case for each one million exposed, in response to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the health threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest average internet benzene ranges in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis supplies vital 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.

“People residing close to these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than some other a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies responsible for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual levels of benzene throughout the communities.

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