Analysis: Nearly 1 Million Pounds of Seven Deadly Air Pollutants Released by Texas Refineries During Harvey Floods

Staggering amounts of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, hexane, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, toluene and xylene — estimated at 951,000 pounds so far — were emitted during Harvey-related flooding by several dozen petroleum industry facilities operated by Chevron Phillips, Exxon Mobil, Shell and other companies. These seven chemicals are all toxic air pollutants documented to cause serious harms to human health, and several cause cancer.

Total air pollutants from all oil and gas facilities added up to 5.46 million pounds, which is equal to 2,729 tons.

“Oil-industry facilities spewed thousands of tons of toxic chemicals into defenseless communities, despite ample warning about hurricane risk to this area,” said Shaye Wolf, the Center scientist who compiled the analysis. “Dangerous flaring from coastal refineries has become routine during major storms. The petroleum industry seems utterly unwilling to take responsibility for operating safely, even as climate change makes storms like Harvey more destructive.”

Today’s analysis is based on initial industry reports to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality through Aug. 31, and these numbers are expected to grow. While some of the toxic emissions were caused by storm damage, including tank roof failures at six facilities, the majority of emissions were caused by refinery and chemical plant shutdown and startup procedures that used flaring.


Image: The seven dangerous air pollutants released by Texas petroleum industry facilities during Harvey.


The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.5 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/air-pollution-09-01-2017.php