A new report has exposed that refineries producing ‘green’ fuel, projected to protect the environment, have become major polluters themselves. According to report, 275 biofuel and ethanol manufacturing companies in the U.S. discharged 12 million tons of toxic substances in 2022. In comparison, traditional oil refineries emitted 15 million tons during same period. These plants release chemicals that can cause short-term health problems like nausea, diarrhea, and respiratory problems, and long-term exposure can lead to cancer. Most of these refineries are situated in the Midwest, with one in Illinois being a major source of hexane releases, a chemical known to damage nerves. The Environmental Integrity Project or EIP used data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for this analysis, cover 191 ethanol plants, 71 biodiesel plants, as well as 13 renewable diesel plants.
How We Can Serve Our Planet Earth: A Guide to Achieving UN SDGs
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