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

A dozen US oil refineries last year exceeded the federal restrict on common benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum level for benzene, 5 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 Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that's highly toxic and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million folks in the US dwell within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and people of color represented at charges nearly twice that of the overall inhabitants.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the motion stage, yr after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press conference. “It's worthwhile to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a danger of up to one extra most cancers case for every a million exposed, according to the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common internet benzene ranges in 2021, according to the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 individuals dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides important perception into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press convention.

“Individuals living near these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than every other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies answerable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez said.

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

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