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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Project revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that is extremely toxic and risky when exposed to air. Much of the excess emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be hard to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million folks in the US stay inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of shade represented at rates almost twice that of the final inhabitants.

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 these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Project defines as a long-term potential well being menace.

The EPA requires amenities to take motion in the event that they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action stage, 12 months after 12 months, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press conference. “You'll want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might trigger a danger of up to one additional cancer case for each one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best average web benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst 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.

“Individuals dwelling near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than some other part of the state, but the regulatory companies liable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't reflect the precise ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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