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 average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum level for benzene, five have been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Project revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are arduous to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million folks within the US reside within three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and other people of shade represented at rates practically twice that of the overall population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action level, yr after yr, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Mission, in a press conference. “You should begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter could trigger a threat of as much as one further cancer case for every one million uncovered, in keeping with the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the higher the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the very best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, in keeping with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of colour and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis offers necessary perception into why the Houston space is an industrial cancer hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Individuals residing close to these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than any other a part of the state, yet the regulatory companies liable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its evaluation did not 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 didn't immediately respond to a request for remark.