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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, five have been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's highly toxic and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million individuals in the US dwell within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and folks of colour represented at charges practically twice that of the general population.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or near the location, otherwise known as the fence-line.

Almost half of those 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 services to take action in the event that they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion level” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action stage, 12 months after year, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press conference. “You'll want to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a threat of as much as one extra cancer case for every one million uncovered, in response to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common internet benzene ranges in 2021, based on the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals stay inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation gives important insight into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Folks residing near these services have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than another a part of the state, yet the regulatory companies responsible for protecting us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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