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

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

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

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's extremely poisonous and volatile when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which are hard to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million folks within the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and folks of colour represented at rates practically twice that of the overall population.

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

Practically 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 threat.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action degree, yr after 12 months, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “It's good to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a threat of as much as one further cancer case for every a million exposed, according to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the well being danger.

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

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

“People residing close to these services have higher [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses answerable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

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

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