2024 Volume 4 Pages 99-110
Crude oil is a cornerstone of the American energy sector, particularly vital for transportation and plastic manufacturing industries. This study investigates the environmental impacts of the oil industry, focusing on carcinogenic emissions from oil refineries. Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory and the Energy Information Administration’s refinery capacity reports, Kendall rank correlation and regression analyses examine the relationship between refinery capacity and emissions of benzene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene and polycyclic aromatic compounds from 2010 to 2022. The analysis revealed significant findings: benzene emissions in Wyoming showed a statistically significant negative correlation with refinery capacity (τ=−0.49, p<0.05), suggesting that increased capacity correlates with lower benzene emissions. Ethylbenzene emissions in Alaska (τ=0.61, p<0.05) and Texas (τ=0.46, p<0.05) were positively correlated with capacity, indicating that higher production is associated with increased emissions. Naphthalene emissions display mixed results, with a significant positive correlation in Alaska (τ=0.63, p<0.05) and a significant negative correlation in California (τ=−0.50, p<0.05). R-squared values for these relationships suggest moderate explanatory power, such as 0.25 for benzene in Wyoming and 0.19 for ethylbenzene in Alaska. These findings indicate that although regulatory measures and technological advancements have reduced emissions over time, certain carcinogens still pose challenges as production capacity increases. The study underscores the need for stronger regulations and sustainable practices in oil refining to address the ongoing risks to public health and environmental sustainability.