Chevron Richmond Refinery Emissions Triple State Cancer Risk Threshold

The Chevron Richmond Refinery in California faces criticism for its toxic air emissions, which have tripled the state's threshold for cancer risk. According to a recent health risk assessment by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, residents living near the facility face a lifetime cancer risk of 37 in a million due to benzene and benzo[a]pyrene emissions.

The district's report found that 74% of the estimated cancer risk comes from benzo[a]pyrene leaking from pipe fittings and storage tanks. Elevated short-term, non-cancer health risks stem mainly from benzene evaporating out of the refinery's wastewater treatment systems.

Chevron has pushed back on the district's methodology, claiming that the emissions model relies on worst-case modeling assumptions and includes disused equipment that no longer reflects actual operations. The company notes that neighboring air districts have stricter cancer risk action thresholds, but regulators argue that their 10-in-a-million standard is necessary for public health.