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

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

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

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

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million folks in the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and other people of colour represented at rates practically twice that of the general inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or near the location, in any other case often known as the fence-line.

Almost half of these refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Venture defines as a long-term potential well being menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action level, yr after yr, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “You should begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might trigger a threat of as much as one additional cancer case for every a million exposed, according to the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best common net benzene ranges in 2021, based on the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of coloration and 47% are low-income.

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

“People living near these amenities have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than every other a part of the state, but the regulatory companies liable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Undertaking notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not replicate the actual ranges of benzene throughout the communities.

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