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 maximum level for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's extremely toxic and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means that are hard to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people within the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of color represented at charges practically twice that of the general population.

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

Practically half of those refineries released benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Venture defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action level, yr after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “You might want to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a threat of as much as one further most cancers case for each a million exposed, according to the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being danger.

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

“This evaluation gives important insight into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press convention.

“People dwelling close to these amenities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than another part of the state, but the regulatory agencies chargeable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

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

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