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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost degree for benzene, five 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 Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's highly poisonous and risky when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be onerous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US stay inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of color represented at rates practically twice that of the general population.

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

Practically half of those refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Undertaking defines as a long-term potential well being risk.

The EPA requires facilities to take action in the event that 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 action level, yr after yr, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “You want 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 might cause a danger of up to one extra most cancers case for each one million exposed, in response to the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best common web benzene levels in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation provides essential perception into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling close to these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than some other part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses liable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not reflect the precise ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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