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

A dozen US oil refineries last yr exceeded the federal restrict on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely toxic and unstable when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be onerous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million folks in the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and folks 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 positioning, otherwise often called the fence-line.

Nearly half of those refineries released benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Venture defines as a long-term potential well being menace.

The EPA requires facilities to take motion in the event that 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 motion degree, yr after year, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “It's essential to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a risk of as much as one extra cancer case for every a million exposed, in accordance with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common web benzene levels in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Individuals dwelling close to these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies answerable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't replicate the actual levels of benzene within the communities.

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