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

A dozen US oil refineries final 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, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's extremely toxic and unstable when uncovered to air. Much of the surplus emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be hard to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million folks within the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of coloration represented at rates almost twice that of the general population.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or close to the positioning, otherwise often called the fence-line.

Practically half of these refineries released benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Venture defines as a long-term potential health menace.

The EPA requires services to take motion 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 motion degree, year after yr, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “It's essential begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a danger of up to one additional most cancers case for every one million exposed, according to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common net benzene levels in 2021, in response to the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of colour and 47% are low-income.

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

“People dwelling close to these facilities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than some other part of the state, but the regulatory companies answerable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual ranges of benzene inside the communities.

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