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 many 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost stage for benzene, 5 had been in Texas, four 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 is extremely poisonous and unstable when exposed to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which are laborious to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US dwell within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and people of coloration represented at rates almost twice that of the overall population.

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

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

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

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene below the action degree, yr after 12 months, we really need to see enforcement from the EPA,” mentioned Eric Schaeffer, the chief director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a press conference. “It is advisable to start paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime exposure to benzene at ranges as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may trigger a threat of up to one additional most cancers case for each one million uncovered, in line with the EPA. The higher the extent of benzene, the higher the well being threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas Metropolis had the very best common net benzene ranges in 2021, in line with the analysis of the self-reported knowledge. Roughly 37,000 folks stay inside a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are people of coloration and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis supplies essential perception into why the Houston space 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 better [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than any other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses liable for protecting us proceed to approve permits for these amenities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its evaluation didn't measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual levels of benzene throughout the communities.

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