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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, five have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's highly toxic and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which are exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million folks in the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of colour represented at charges almost twice that of the overall population.

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

Nearly half of these refineries released benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Project defines as a long-term potential health risk.

The EPA requires facilities to take motion if they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion level” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action degree, 12 months after yr, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “It's essential begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges 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 extra cancer case for every one million exposed, in line with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best average web benzene levels in 2021, according to the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people stay inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis supplies important perception into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“People dwelling close to these services have larger [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than any other part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies accountable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't replicate the actual ranges of benzene inside the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.