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

A dozen US oil refineries last yr exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's extremely toxic and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means that are onerous to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or near the location, in any other case often called the fence-line.

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action level, yr after yr, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “It's essential to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a risk of up to one extra most cancers case for every one million exposed, in response to the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best average web benzene ranges in 2021, in response to the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks living near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than every other a part of the state, but the regulatory businesses answerable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

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

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't immediately reply to a request for remark.