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

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

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

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely toxic and volatile when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are onerous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million people in the US reside inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and people of coloration represented at rates almost twice that of the general inhabitants.

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

Nearly half of these refineries released benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, year after yr, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press convention. “You might want to begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a risk of up to one further cancer case for each one million uncovered, 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 best common web benzene levels in 2021, in response to the evaluation of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 individuals reside inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“People dwelling near these amenities have larger [exposure] to lifetime cancer threat than some other a part of the state, but the regulatory agencies chargeable for defending us continue to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't replicate the precise ranges of benzene within the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't instantly reply to a request for comment.