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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, five were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's extremely toxic and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are onerous to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or near the positioning, in any other case known as the fence-line.

Nearly half of those refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Venture defines as a long-term potential health threat.

The EPA requires facilities to take action 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 beneath the action level, 12 months after year, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “You could start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a threat of as much as one additional cancer case for each one million uncovered, in keeping with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

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

“This evaluation provides important insight into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling near these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than another part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses answerable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Undertaking notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not reflect the actual levels of benzene throughout the communities.

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