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

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

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

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's highly toxic and unstable when exposed to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be laborious to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million people within the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of coloration represented at charges almost twice that of the overall inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or close to the positioning, otherwise often known as the fence-line.

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the motion degree, yr after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “You should begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a danger of up to one extra most cancers case for each a million exposed, in accordance with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the health threat.

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

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

“People living near these amenities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than every other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses accountable for protecting us continue to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not replicate the precise ranges of benzene within the communities.

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