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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, five have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely toxic and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be arduous to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million folks in the US live inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and folks of shade represented at charges almost twice that of the final population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action level, 12 months after yr, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press convention. “It is advisable begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a danger of as much as one extra cancer case for each one million exposed, in keeping with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the highest common net benzene ranges in 2021, based on the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of color and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation supplies necessary insight into why the Houston area is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling near these amenities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than another part of the state, yet the regulatory agencies accountable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not mirror the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly respond to a request for comment.