Port Arthur Resident's Cancer Story Highlights Petrochemical Industry's Health Impact
John Beard, a long-time resident of Port Arthur, Texas, shares a personal story about a friend who succumbed to cancer after working in a factory for three decades. This highlights the significant health impact of the petrochemical industry on workers and residents in the area.
Beard himself worked in a refinery for many years, despite being aware of the health risks. He explains that the good pay and benefits offered by oil and gas jobs often outweigh the potential dangers. However, he criticizes the lack of adequate environmental and protective measures by companies like Sempra Infrastructure, which operates LNG export facilities in Port Arthur. While some of their equipment aims to reduce emissions, the overall industry is criticized for not doing enough to protect surrounding communities from harmful pollutants.
Residents living near petrochemical plants are often not adequately informed about the dangers of pollutants, unlike workers who receive safety training. Beard also criticizes the EU's purchase of US liquefied natural gas, arguing that it hinders the energy transition and exploits workers in areas like the Gulf of Mexico and Appalachians. He holds corporations responsible for the health impacts of pollution, stating that their profit-driven decisions are complicit in a crime. Beard believes that companies can run their businesses without pollution by investing in cleaning and protective measures.
The petrochemical industry in Port Arthur and Beaumont has high unemployment rates, with most workers coming from outside the affected areas. A Total refinery in Port Arthur is the third-largest emitter of benzene in the U.S., which can cause cancer and be deadly even in small amounts. Beard refers to the Texas Gulf Coast as the 'Sacrifice Coast' due to the high health impacts of the fossil fuel industry. Cancer rates and respiratory, heart, and kidney diseases are high in Port Arthur, Texas, due to the petrochemical industry.
Beard's story sheds light on the significant health impact of the petrochemical industry on workers and residents in Port Arthur. He calls for greater responsibility from corporations and better protection for communities affected by pollution.
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