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

A dozen US oil refineries final yr exceeded the federal restrict 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 identified carcinogen that's highly toxic and risky when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means which might be hard to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or near the location, in any other case referred to as the fence-line.

Nearly half of these refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential well being threat.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action level, yr after 12 months, we actually must see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “It's good to start paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a threat of up to one further cancer case for each one million uncovered, in response to 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 common net benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This evaluation offers essential insight into why the Houston area is an industrial cancer hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, at the press conference.

“Folks dwelling close to these amenities have greater [exposure] to lifetime cancer danger than some other a part of the state, but the regulatory agencies chargeable for defending us continue to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Undertaking notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and doesn't replicate the precise ranges of benzene inside the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not immediately reply to a request for comment.