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 average benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four 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 recognized carcinogen that's highly toxic and risky when exposed to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be exhausting to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million people within the US stay inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of coloration represented at rates nearly twice that of the general inhabitants.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action level, yr after year, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press conference. “You need to start 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 cause a danger of as much as one further most cancers case for each one million uncovered, in response to the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the higher the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common net benzene ranges in 2021, in response to the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

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

“People dwelling near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses responsible for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't reflect the precise levels of benzene within the communities.

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