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

A dozen US oil refineries last 12 months exceeded the federal limit on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Undertaking revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's extremely poisonous and volatile when exposed to air. A lot of the excess emissions come by leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which can be hard to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million people in the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and people of coloration represented at charges practically twice that of the overall population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action stage, 12 months after year, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “It is advisable begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a threat of as much as one additional most cancers case for each one million exposed, based on the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the upper the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best average internet benzene levels in 2021, in line with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 people dwell inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are people of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation gives vital perception into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Folks living near these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than every other a part of the state, but the regulatory businesses accountable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

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

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