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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that is highly toxic and volatile when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million people within the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of coloration represented at charges practically twice that of the final population.

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

Practically half of those refineries released benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Mission defines as a long-term potential well being threat.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the action stage, yr after 12 months, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press conference. “It is advisable 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 trigger a risk of up to one further cancer case for every one million exposed, based on the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best average web benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 folks reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis supplies vital perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling near these services have better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies accountable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez stated.

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

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