Could Houston locals experience a higher risk for cancers over time? Recent samples have indicated that a community east of Houston has higher-than-average levels of benzene in the air, which has been linked to leukemia and other types of cancers. 

Data from recent environmental regulator samples indicates that the air in the east Houston area has been laced with high levels of benzene for about 20 years. 

Per MSN, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has not formally notified the residents about the benzene exposure or the linked risks. 

K-Solv is the facility that has been identified as the responsible entity for the Benzene leak. The original leak was found in 2005, and the company has since expanded its operations a total of four formal times per MSN. 

Benzene is known by most as a colorless chemical that smells sweet and sugary. It’s often found in industrial products, such as gasoline, crude oil, plastics, paints, and glues. It’s also often found in detergents. 

Many lobbyists and capitalists have blocked the formal regulation of benzene, as it is so commonly used. Government agencies have been attempting to impose regulations around the chemical since 1978. 

Ambient benzene exposure is a term that would cover the type of exposure many East Houston residents face. At this time, there are no formal federal standards for benzene exposure that is ambient. 

Eight total states have attempted to create self-regulation systems to protect residents and workers from the possibly harmful effects of benzene.

MSN notes the current TCEQ standards state that air must contain no more than 180 parts of benzene per billion parts of air — or ppb. This quantity cannot be exceeded over a single one-hour period. 

The TCEQ publicly loosened guidelines as industrial presence grew in this area of East Houston, increasing the ppb limit by 40% in 2007. This continued once again during a business boom in 2019-2021. 

While the aforementioned long-term effects of benzene can be life-threatening, the chemical has also been associated with unpleasant short-term effects.

Long-term exposure to benzene pollution has been linked to various blood diseases including aplastic anemia and pancytopenia.

Professor Loren Hopkins of Rice University has spoken up regarding the concern, as the U.S. EPA suggests their air toxicity screening tool estimates that the current benzene exposure in Texas could result in 30 cases of cancer per 1 million residents. 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool developed by the EPA that allows Americans to quickly find up-to-date information about the air in their area. People can search by zip Code, city, or state to see the current conditions on the ground and a forecast of what the conditions will likely be in the future.

There is still a lot of research that still needs to be done to figure out the long-term effects of living under increased pollution. In 2023, the National Cancer Institute found that living in areas with high levels of air pollution was correlated with a higher incidence rate of breast cancer. 

One of the dangers of modern air pollution is not just the chemicals it contains but its ability to suspend particles in the air. Particulate air pollution occurs when a tiny solid or liquid particle becomes part of the air.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that fine particulate pollution can also present a major risk of triggering heart attacks and other conditions. 

According to the CDC, people most at risk for experiencing health effects from particle pollution include people with medical conditions like asthma and older adults. Another group that is most affected is babies and children, who experience more severe health conditions compared to someone whose body has fully developed.

Someone may live in an air with high levels of pollution and may not have a choice about whether to move or leave. In these cases, there are several steps one can take to mitigate the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Incidents like the one in this Texas town seem to be reported on more commonly in recent years. Has our air pollution reached critical levels?

Air quality can vary significantly from year-to-year and even season-to-season. Despite clear progress that America’s air is becoming cleaner, most of it is being made in the summer months.

One reason for this lack of progress in winter months is the way we think about air pollution. Lyatt Jaeglé an author on the research paper, commented one drawback on understanding air pollution through the summer months.

Many people in cities today are enjoying beautiful sunsets in the skies above them every night. However, some of the colors seen in these sunsets are the result of aerosol pollution or particulate matter.

The EPA warns that the rising threat of climate change will soon exacerbate problems related to toxic air pollution.