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 utmost stage for benzene, five have been in Texas, four 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 recognized carcinogen that's extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are arduous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of colour represented at rates practically twice that of the final inhabitants.

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

Almost half of these refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential health threat.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion stage, year after yr, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “You have to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a risk of as much as one additional cancer case for every a million exposed, in response to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest common net benzene levels in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 people dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks dwelling near these facilities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than some other part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses answerable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not mirror the precise levels of benzene within the communities.

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