Dependance on U.S.-produced oil for fuel and energy is a much-debated topic. The 150 operutional refinaries within the U.S. are not only an enviromental threat, but they also present a very serious health risk – something we may not have considered. The vast majority of refinaries in our country contain dangerous levels of asbestos in the form of piping insulation, and this is a very serious health threat for oil refinary workers and those living nearby, as exposure to asbestos is the only conclusive cause of mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer that does not have a cure.

The last U.S. refinary was built in 1976, a few years before the instatution of asbestos-usage regulations by the federal goverment. Because all U.S. refinaries were built before the health risks of asbestos were fully understood, asbestos was widely used as insulation along the extensive refinery piping. It is safe to assume that every single refinery in our country is harboring harmful levels of asbestos, and as piping insulation ages and corrodes, asbestos-containing insulation (as well as asbestos-containing floor and ceiling tiles that are often present in refineries) can release tiny asbestos fibers into the air, putting oil refinery workers at risk of inhaltion. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can cling to the pleural lining of the lungs for decades before an afflicted individual may begin to experience mesothelioma symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chronic and painful cough and the presence of fluid within the lung cavity. Once diagnosed, mesothelioma patients generally lose their battle with this particularly aggressive type of cancer in less than 2 years, and less than 1% of patients will survive. There is no cure, and mesothelioma treatment methods can only improve quality of life for a short period of time.

Oil refinery workers are certainly at a heightened risk of asbestos exposure and subsequent development of mesothelioma cancer, but the residents living nearby U.S. refineries are also at great risk. If a refinery experiences a fire or explosion, or if it is damaged by high winds or water (the recent hurricane damage along the Gulf Coast is a prime example) asbestos fibers can also become airborne or can be released into the water, putting nearby residents at risk as well.The use of U.S. refineries comes with a price. Not only do oil refineries produce millions of pounds of air and water pollution each year, but they also put workers and residents at risk of asbestos exposure. By relying on alternative sources of fuel, such as ethanol, and by reducing a need for oil refineries, we will also be decreasing the number of people that will be exposed to asbestos, thus reducing the number of individuals who may one day suffer from mesothelioma cancer.For further information regarding the environmental and health risks associated with oil refineries, please visit www.maacenter.org.