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

A dozen US oil refineries final year exceeded the federal restrict on common benzene emissions.

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum stage for benzene, 5 were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that's extremely poisonous and unstable when uncovered to air. Much of the excess emissions come via leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are arduous to detect.

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

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene focus registered at or near the positioning, otherwise referred to as the fence-line.

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

The EPA requires services to take action in the event that they exceed an average 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “action stage” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene under the action stage, yr after 12 months, we really must see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Challenge, in a press conference. “That you must start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a danger of up to one further cancer case for each one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The upper the level of benzene, the higher the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the highest average web benzene levels in 2021, in accordance with the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 people live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of shade and 47% are low-income.

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

“Folks residing close to these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other a part of the state, but the regulatory businesses answerable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez said.

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

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not immediately respond to a request for remark.