A new report shows five Texas refineries are releasing benzene at levels that could pose a long-term health threat.
"Short-term exposure to benzene can cause headaches, dizziness, and irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, as well as damage to the immune and blood systems," wrote the Environmental Integrity Project. "Long-term exposure can lead to blood disorders and increase the risk of leukemia."
The worst offender on the EIP's list is the Marathon Galveston Bay/Texas City refinery.
Project spokesman Tom Pelton wants the Texas Commission on Environment Quality and the EPA to take action.
"About 62% of the people living within three miles of that refinery are people of color, and so that's a prime example of an environmental injustice where you have a very profitable refinery making a lot of money," Pelton said.
The other refineries tagged in the report include LyondellBasell's plant in Houston, the Total refinery in Port Arthur, the Flint Hills Resources refinery in Corpus, and Chevron's Pasadena refinery.
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