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

A dozen US oil refineries last yr exceeded the federal limit 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 new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be laborious to detect.

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

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

Practically half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Undertaking defines as a long-term potential well being threat.

The EPA requires facilities to take motion in the event that they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “action stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action stage, year after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press conference. “You have to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could cause a threat of as much as one further most cancers case for every a million uncovered, based on the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest average internet benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Individuals dwelling close to these amenities have higher [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than every other a part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses chargeable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

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

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.