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


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US oil refineries spewing cancer-causing benzene into communities, report finds | Pollution
2022-05-14 04:01:17
#oil #refineries #spewing #cancercausing #benzene #communities #report #finds #Pollution

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum level for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Project revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be laborious to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people in the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of colour 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 positioning, otherwise generally known as the fence-line.

Nearly half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential health threat.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the motion stage, year after year, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “You have to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

A bar chart displaying a dozen refineries that exceeded the EPA restrict on benzene emissions final 12 months, with Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best average net benzene ranges in 2021.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a threat of up to one further most cancers case for every a million exposed, based on the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common net benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides important perception into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“People living close to these services have larger [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than some other part of the state, but the regulatory companies chargeable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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


Quelle: www.theguardian.com

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