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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, five were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each 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's highly poisonous and unstable when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which can be onerous to detect.

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

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action level, 12 months after year, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “You have to start 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 may cause a threat of as much as one additional cancer case for every one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The higher the level of benzene, the upper the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best average net benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of shade and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks residing near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than any other part of the state, but the regulatory companies responsible for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez stated.

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

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly reply to a request for remark.