By Caitlion O. Hunter, Esq.

A service program of RISE St. James; Caitlion O. Hunter, Esq.; Tim Schütz, PhD Researcher, Anthropology University of California, Irvine; and The Community Scientist (TCS) Research Team

Chemical of the Month: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

The vast amount of different chemicals released into the air and water in Cancer Alley makes determining the impact of one single chemical difficult. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a group of chemicals that have severe health impacts. Oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities typically emit many VOCS, leading to increased risks to public health, and can react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, another harmful pollutant.

Volatile means that these chemicals can evaporate into the air “under normal indoor atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure,” while organic means that these compounds contain carbon atoms. VOCs can also dissolve into water, in some cases remaining in groundwater for decades. While a 2023 study did not find large amounts of VOCs in the Mississippi River, leaks of VOCs from refinery and oil waste sites have seeped through soil and contaminated groundwater throughout the state. In Ascension Parish, groundwater tested positive for multiple VOCs in 2019, even though the dumping ground that leaked the chemicals was thought to be previously remediated in the 1980s.

Some of our previous Chemicals of the Month are VOCs, including benzene, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, and ethylene oxide. All four of these chemicals are carcinogenic. Though not all VOCs are cancer-causing chemicals, they do carry other health risks. Long term or chronic exposure to a group of VOCs known as BTEX- benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene- can cause damage to the kidney, liver, and blood. Exposure to benzene in particular is associated with damage to the bone marrow, reproductive harm, and an increased risk of leukemia. Workers who handle oil or petrochemicals on the job come in contact with VOCs and BTEX, especially when loading tankers or when the chemicals are otherwise exposed to air. Employees of gas stations are also exposed to much more VOCs than customers, and have been found to show symptoms of chronic benzene poisoning.

A study by Dr. Kim Terrell of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic determined that, when looking at Louisiana census tracts with industrial facilities, majority Black communities in Louisiana are exposed to almost thirteen times more VOCs than White communities. When VOCs evaporate into the air, they disperse and become more diluted the farther they travel from the emission source. But for the Black fenceline communities burdened by polluting industry, their closeness to the facilities means that the VOC concentrations are much higher than areas just a few miles away. The VOC ethylene oxide unit at the proposed Formosa Plastics plant would be located just one mile from St. Louis Academy and the Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

VOCs in water can be absorbed through the skin when bathing or from drinking. Although VOCs dissipate quickly into the atmosphere outside, the EPA has found that levels of VOCs in indoor air are 2 to 5 times higher than outside. In addition to the health risks associated with breathing or drinking VOCs, this class of chemicals also interacts with nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the atmosphere to produce ozone, which can impair lung function, trigger asthma attacks, and aggravate existing bronchitis and emphysema.

Oil refineries like Marathon in Garyville are among the largest emitters of VOCs. The Marathon refinery explosion released unknown amounts of VOC benzene into the air when the benzene-containing naphtha storage tank began to leak and then explode. The proposed DG Fuel plant has yet to apply for an air permit or reveal exactly which pollutants it will emit, but has shared that some VOCs will be emitted from the manufacturing process. Additionally, as the fuel is currently planned to be distributed by barges, the activity at the port will also generate VOCs from the trains, handling equipment, and ships. DG Fuel has not yet answered the big questions about what kinds of pollution they will add to some of the worst air in America.

HOW TO REDUCE DEMAND AND EXPOSURE TO VOCS:

• Cigarette smoking is a major source of VOC exposure, especially benzene. People who vape or use e-cigarettes have levels of VOCs similar to people who had never smoked.

• If you can make the switch to electric vehicles, this will reduce your exposure to the VOCs in gasoline. Otherwise, if possible, walk away from the pump while your vehicle is refueling to minimize your exposure.

• Do not use paint, paint thinners, and glues indoors. Use these outdoors, or if indoors, open doors and windows, and let the items offgas for ideally 72 hours to reduce the VOCS emitted into your home. There are also Low- or Zero-VOC paint brands to choose from. Some of the most harmful VOCs released are not detectable through smell, so just because there is no odor does not mean there is no risk.