Refinery Neighbor Study shows high levels of benzene
|
|
 | |
By Dan Kelley
Saturday, November 8, 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI — Blood and urine samples from residents in Corpus Christi's Hillcrest neighborhood show benzene levels about 14 times higher than those found among gas station workers in Mexico, according to a study released Friday.
But there is scant data on what levels of benzene are considered risky in bodily fluids or what is considered normal. For this study, researchers compared data from previous studies -- one on Mexican gas station workers, the other a study of chemicals found in the general population.
Inhalation of benzene, a component of petroleum, has been linked to diminished red blood cell counts, and cancer at higher levels. Hillcrest is near Corpus Christi refineries.
Mike Cain, a refinery manager and president of Port Industries of Corpus Christi, said he would question the results because it compares local results to a single data point -- Mexican gas station attendants who would be exposed to gasoline regularly.
Levels of benzene found in the Hillcrest group were about 280 times those of the general population.
Suzie Canales, director of the group Citizens for Environmental Justice, said she hopes the results of the study, which was two years in the making and difficult to find funding for, will spur refineries to buy out residents from homes in neighborhoods near refineries.
"This has been a long time in coming because it's so hard to find that much money," Canales said. "That's why I said we aren't going to wait until the next comparison. We need to get this done now."
The study notes that the source of the volatile organic compounds isn't clearly determined. Most of them are found naturally in gasoline. The residents live near two refineries. The neighborhood is near Interstate 37, and vehicle exhaust from the roadway could contribute to ambient benzene levels.
The study is the first local attempt to measure toxic chemicals in the blood of residents near refinery row. The study was a collaborative effort by the Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health in College Station, the Coastal Bend Health Education Center and Citizens for Environmental Justice.
In addition to the findings on benzene, the study looked at other volatile organic compound found in blood.
Researchers will release a similar study of Harris County residents.
But K.C. Donnelly, the author of the study, said funds aren't available for a follow-up in Nueces County.
They also caution that the sample size was small -- fewer than 100 people -- and note that other factors, including nutrition, genetics and other lifestyle choices might influence the speed at which people metabolize benzene.
Portions of the Northside neighborhood saw buyouts in the 1990s, and city officials hoped industry would create a buffer between refinery row and Interstate 37. But area refineries stopped the buyouts in 1999.
Canales' efforts to obtain a new wave of buyouts come as the city is attempting to revitalize the Hillcrest neighborhood, and spent roughly $100,000 on a consultant to tell it how.
"We've had several approaches to the redevelopment of Hillcrest," said City Councilman Bill Kelly, who represents the area. "At one point, we talked about creating an environment to sell for values higher than they are now by converting to commercial uses."
That proposal, Kelly said, was rejected by residents of the neighborhood.
"The current plans are community driven. They haven't come up with a final plan, but Hillcrest is contemplating residential uses. I think it's appropriate that people who are facing the challenges of that neighborhood should have input in setting the priorities."
Nueces County ranks sixth in the nation for benzene releases, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
If you go
The author of the Hillcrest benzene study, K.C. Donnelly, will field questions.
When: 6 p.m. Monday
Where: Oveal Williams Senior Center, 1414 Martin Luther King Drive, Corpus Christi
Contact Dan Kelley at 886-4316 or kelleyd@caller.com. Denise Malan contributed to this story.
|
