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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, 5 were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Venture revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is highly toxic and unstable when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals in the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of coloration represented at charges nearly twice that of the overall population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the motion degree, 12 months after year, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “It is advisable begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might trigger a threat of up to one additional most cancers case for every a million exposed, in keeping with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the higher the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest common web benzene ranges in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people 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 conference.

“Folks dwelling close to these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies accountable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its analysis did not 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 instantly respond to a request for comment.