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

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

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

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is extremely toxic and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are onerous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million individuals in the US dwell within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of shade represented at rates nearly twice that of the final inhabitants.

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

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

The EPA requires services 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 action level, yr after yr, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “It's good to begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might trigger a threat of as much as one additional cancer case for each a million exposed, in keeping with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common web benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of coloration and 47% are low-income.

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

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

Environmental Integrity Undertaking notes that its analysis didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not mirror the actual levels of benzene within the communities.

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