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

A dozen US oil refineries last yr exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, five 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 Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's extremely toxic and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the surplus emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million folks in the US live within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and other people of colour represented at charges nearly twice that of the overall inhabitants.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the motion degree, 12 months after yr, we really have to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Undertaking, in a press convention. “It's worthwhile to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at ranges as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a threat of up to one extra most cancers case for each a million exposed, based on the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the upper the well being risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest common net benzene ranges in 2021, according to the evaluation of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 folks dwell within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are folks of color and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis supplies necessary insight into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” mentioned Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press convention.

“Individuals dwelling near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than another a part of the state, but the regulatory agencies accountable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez stated.

Environmental Integrity Project notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene inside neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not replicate the precise levels of benzene inside the communities.

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