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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum level for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every 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 highly toxic and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be hard to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or close to the positioning, in any other case generally known as the fence-line.

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, 12 months after year, we actually have to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press conference. “You have 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 threat of up to one extra most cancers case for each a million exposed, in line with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the best average net benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the evaluation of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 individuals live inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis gives important insight into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” stated Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press convention.

“Folks living close to these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than every other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies liable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Venture notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not reflect the actual levels of benzene within the communities.

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