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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost degree for benzene, five had been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's extremely toxic and risky when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Company estimates 6.1 million folks in the US dwell inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and folks of color represented at charges almost twice that of the general population.

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

Practically half of these refineries released benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Project defines as a long-term potential health threat.

The EPA requires services to take action if they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, 12 months after 12 months, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press convention. “It's essential to start 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 most cancers case for every one million uncovered, in accordance with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the health threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation gives necessary perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Individuals living close to these facilities have larger [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than any other part of the state, but the regulatory agencies accountable for defending us continue to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

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

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