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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage 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 Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is extremely toxic and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million people within the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and people of color represented at rates almost twice that of the final inhabitants.

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

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

The EPA requires services to take action 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 action degree, 12 months after 12 months, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “That you must begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a risk of up to one additional cancer case for every a million uncovered, according to the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the upper the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest average internet benzene ranges in 2021, according to the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 people live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis supplies important perception into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Individuals residing near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than every other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses accountable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not replicate the actual ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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