benzene
Credit: Robin Sommer/Unsplash
Why have emissions from oil refineries significantly decreased?
Benzene emissions from U.S. oil refineries have dropped due to stringent federal oversight and regulations implemented in 2015.
In short:
- Federal regulations require refineries to monitor and address benzene emissions, leading to significant decreases.
- The EPA's 2015 rule mandates action if annual average benzene levels exceed 9 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Despite overall progress, refineries along the Gulf Coast continue to struggle with high benzene emissions.
Key quote:
"It's a big improvement, and benzene is especially nasty."
— Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project
Why this matters:
Benzene is a well-known carcinogen, strongly linked to an increased risk of leukemia and other cancers. Chronic exposure, even at low levels, can lead to significant health issues. By reducing benzene emissions, we can lower the incidence of cancer among populations living near refineries and improve overall community health.
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: Roy Luck/flickr
Cancer-causing benzene levels were cut in half at US refineries in 2023: Report
Texas refineries, however, still have some work to do.
HOUSTON — The number of U.S. oil refineries exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for benzene in 2023 was cut in half compared to 2020, according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project.
In 2023 just six refineries were above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s average annual “action level,” compared to 12 back in 2020. The level, which is nine micrograms per cubic meter and was set in 2015, serves as a standard that requires corrective action if the concentration of benzene at a facility exceeds it. Corrective measures include determining the root cause of the emissions and then mitigating the pollution. The 2015 benzene standard also required fenceline monitoring for benzene to be finalized by 2018 at several refineries and chemical plants.
Benzene is a cancer-causing compound found in oil, gas and petroleum products. Long-term exposure can also cause various blood disorders and reproductive harm. Short-term exposure can result in headaches, dizziness and respiratory irritation.
Environmental groups lauded the findings.
“Requiring companies to publicly disclose their fenceline monitoring results and to find and fix benzene pollution sources appears to be working,” said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, in a statement. “Although we and others are sometimes critical of EPA, this is an example of a success story of regulations working to help to protect neighborhoods near refineries from a dangerous pollutant.”
However, it’s not all good news. Houston, the “energy capital of the nation,” hosts one of the six remaining refineries exceeding the EPA’s benzene standards. The Houston-area Pemex (formally Shell) Deer Park Refinery is exceeding the standard more than any of the other remaining refineries and its annual emissions increased to 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023 — nearly double the EPA’s action level. The levels have been rising over the past two and a half years, according to fenceline data compiled by the Environmental Integrity Project.
“Let's not forget communities that are still suffering from the effects of high benzene levels, such as Deer Park and Galena Park in the Houston area, as well as others nationwide. We must continue to take further strides and actions to provide support to these communities,” said Juan Flores, community air monitoring program manager for Air Alliance Houston, a local nonprofit dedicated to cleaner air, in a statement.
Another Texas refinery — the Total Refinery in Port Arthur — exceeded the EPA’s action level “every reporting period since monitoring began in January 2019,” according to the Environmental Integrity Project report.
“Requiring companies to publicly disclose their fenceline monitoring results and to find and fix benzene pollution sources appears to be working." - Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project
The report authors did note that the decrease in refineries exceeding the action levels does not account for a few refineries that have onsite monitoring plans that adjust their benzene readings downward if there are known offsite sources — or onsite sources like storage tanks — contributing to the emissions.
In addition to the benzene rule, the EPA in April expanded fenceline monitoring rules for more than 200 chemical companies. The EPA says the rule — created under the Clean Air Act and focused on six pollutants including ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride — will reduce toxic air pollution near these plants by roughly 6,200 tons annually, protecting the health and reducing the cancer burden of nearby residents.
“With the success of the benzene monitoring program, hopefully this expansion of fenceline monitoring will mean that even more industrial facilities will feel pressure to curb their emissions of dangerous air pollutants into surrounding communities,” said Schaeffer.
For additional information on benzene levels, the Environmental Integrity Project launched a database including fenceline monitoring data from 2018 through 2023.
Keep reading...Show less
Photo by Parvesh Kumar on Unsplash
The gas stove fight finally flames out
A new Energy Department regulation would modestly tighten efficiency requirements for some gas stoves.
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash
‘We are not taking this lightly': Texas legislator promises action after investigation into Channelview benzene pollution
Texas State Sen. Carol Alvarado is exploring new legislation to address the issues uncovered during Public Health Watch’s investigation of chronic benzene pollution in the unincorporated community of Channelview.
Newsletter
Photo by Tasos Mansour on Unsplash
The science on benzene keeps getting scarier. Industry remains in denial
The federal government has struggled to control the carcinogen, which threatens workers and residents who are exposed to it. Users and manufacturers have gone to extremes to argue that it’s dangerous only in high doses, hiding data and spending millions on questionable studies.
Newsletter
Credit: Roy Luck/Flickr
A Texas community is being bombarded by cancer-causing benzene. State officials have known for nearly two decades.
In 2005, Texas regulators documented startling amounts of benzene in a community outside Houston. Instead of solving the problem, they allowed a known benzene polluter to expand — a decision scientists worry could haunt residents for years to come.
Report: Lawn equipment spews ‘shocking’ amount of air pollution
“Really inefficient engine technology is pound for pound more polluting than cars and trucks.”
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
