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

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

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

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which are laborious to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million folks within the US dwell inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and folks of coloration 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 site, in any other case generally known as the fence-line.

Almost half of these refineries released benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Mission defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the motion degree, year after 12 months, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “It's essential to begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

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

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

“This evaluation supplies vital perception into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“People residing near these services have better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than some other part of the state, yet the regulatory businesses liable for defending us continue to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez said.

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

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly reply to a request for remark.