Chevron Refinery Ruled Cancer Risk for Richmond Residents Exceeds Threshold

A new preliminary health assessment by the Bay Area Air District has found that residents living near the Chevron refinery in Richmond face a higher risk of cancer and other diseases. The assessment, released this week, 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 risk is attributed to benzo[a]pyrene, a pollutant that escapes through small leaks at pipe fittings and storage tanks. The short-term health risks are mostly due to benzene from the refinery's wastewater treatment system.

Chevron has agreed to pay fines for insufficient monitoring of pollutants in the past, including $100,000 in June 2025 and $900,000 in December 2025. The district is requesting public input on the assessment before finalizing it.