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

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal restrict on average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each 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 highly toxic and unstable when uncovered 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 people in the US dwell within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and other people of colour represented at charges nearly twice that of the overall population.

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

Almost half of these refineries released benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential well being risk.

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 beneath the motion level, 12 months after 12 months, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “It's essential begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a risk of as much as one extra cancer case for each a million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the higher the well being danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common net benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 individuals stay within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“People residing close to these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer risk than every other part of the state, yet the regulatory companies answerable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent 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 remark.