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

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

Among the 12 refineries that emitted above the utmost level for benzene, 5 have been in Texas, four in Louisiana, and one each in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that is extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. A lot of the excess emissions come through leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and other means which might be onerous to detect.

The Environmental Safety Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals within the US stay within three miles of a refinery, with low-income individuals and people of color represented at rates nearly twice that of the final population.

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

Nearly half of those refineries launched benzene ranges above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Challenge defines as a long-term potential health menace.

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

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

Lifetime exposure to benzene at levels as low as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter may cause a risk of up to one further cancer case for every a million uncovered, in accordance with the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health danger.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best common internet benzene levels in 2021, in keeping with the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 individuals live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Among them, 62% are individuals of color and 47% are low-income.

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

“Individuals living near these facilities have greater [exposure] to lifetime most cancers danger than every other a part of the state, but the regulatory agencies responsible for defending us proceed to approve permits for these services,” Gutierrez said.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its analysis did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjacent to refineries, and doesn't reflect the actual ranges of benzene inside the communities.

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