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

A dozen US oil refineries final year exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

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

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people within the US live inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of colour represented at charges practically twice that of the final population.

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

Practically half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Project defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, 12 months after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “You must start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a danger of as much as one extra cancer case for each one million exposed, in keeping with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best average web benzene ranges in 2021, according to the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 people dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation gives important perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Individuals dwelling close to these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than any other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies answerable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not reflect the precise levels of benzene throughout the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly respond to a request for remark.