Chevron Refinery in Richmond Faces Higher Cancer Risk: Health Assessment Released

A preliminary health assessment by the Bay Area Air District has found that residents living near the Chevron refinery in Richmond, California face a higher risk of cancer and other diseases. The assessment estimated that the refinery poses a maximum cancer risk of 37 in a million, exceeding the district's threshold of 10 in a million.

The air district identified the Chevron refinery as a facility that could pose high health impacts and commissioned the preliminary health assessment after adopting a new rule in 2017. Experts from the agency conducted multiple studies and collected samples between 2017 and 2025 to prepare the assessment, which was released Tuesday.

According to the report, most of the cancer risk is due to benzo[a]pyrene, a pollutant that escapes through small leaks at pipe fittings and storage tanks. The short-term health risks are mostly because of benzene from the refinery's wastewater treatment system.

The Bay Area Air District is now requesting public input and will modify the risk estimates based on community comments. If the results hold after reviewing public comments, Chevron will be required to implement a plan to reduce pollution or install best available pollution control.