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

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

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum level for benzene, 5 were in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Mission revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that is highly toxic and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the excess emissions come by means of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are hard to detect.

The Environmental Protection Company estimates 6.1 million folks within the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income people and folks of shade represented at charges nearly twice that of the final population.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or close to the positioning, otherwise often called the fence-line.

Practically half of these refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Mission defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action level, yr after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” said Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press convention. “You should begin paying penalties when your fence-line levels persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a risk of as much as one further most cancers case for each a million uncovered, in accordance with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the upper the health risk.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best common internet benzene levels in 2021, in response to the analysis of the self-reported information. Roughly 37,000 people reside within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are folks of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Individuals living near these facilities have better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers risk than every other part of the state, but the regulatory companies answerable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Challenge notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and does not mirror the precise levels of benzene within the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.