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

A dozen US oil refineries last year exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and unstable when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come by leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be onerous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of color represented at rates nearly twice that of the final population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action degree, 12 months after year, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “It's essential to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a risk of up to one further most cancers case for every a million uncovered, in accordance with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest average net benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 people reside within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation supplies necessary insight into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Individuals residing near these services have higher [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than every other part of the state, but the regulatory agencies liable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual ranges of benzene within the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't instantly reply to a request for comment.