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 average benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost degree for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking 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 different means which might be arduous to detect.

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

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

Practically 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 risk.

The EPA requires services to take action if they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion level” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the motion stage, yr after 12 months, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “It's essential to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a danger of up to one extra most cancers case for each a million exposed, in keeping with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best average internet benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides essential insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Folks living near these amenities have higher [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than any other part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies chargeable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not mirror the actual ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly reply to a request for remark.