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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

Among the 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 Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is highly poisonous and volatile when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means that are exhausting to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or near the location, in any other case referred to as the fence-line.

Practically half of those refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Mission defines as a long-term potential well being risk.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action degree, yr after yr, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “It's essential start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could cause a threat of up to one further cancer case for each one million exposed, in line with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best average net benzene ranges in 2021, in response to the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks residing near these services have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than another part of the state, but the regulatory businesses chargeable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not reflect the actual levels of benzene throughout the communities.

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