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 level for benzene, five were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is highly toxic and volatile when exposed to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are onerous to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of shade represented at charges almost twice that of the general inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or near the location, otherwise often called the fence-line.

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

The EPA requires amenities to take action in the event that they exceed a mean 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion degree” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion level, 12 months after year, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press conference. “You could begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a risk of up to one extra most cancers case for each a million exposed, according to the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the upper the health danger.

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

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

“Folks living close to these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than any other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses chargeable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't mirror the precise ranges of benzene inside the communities.

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