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

A dozen US oil refineries last 12 months exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

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

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

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people within the US stay within 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 close to the site, in any other case often known as the fence-line.

Almost half of those refineries launched 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 services to take action if they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion level, 12 months after 12 months, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press convention. “That you must begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a threat of as much as one further cancer case for every one million exposed, in line with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common web benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation supplies 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.

“Individuals dwelling near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than every other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses chargeable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

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

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