POLLUTION FACTS

EXXONMOBIL, BATON ROUGE

Exxon is the 4th

refining over 500,000 barrels of

oil every day . Chronic, on-going emissions and large accidents from the refinery and chemical plant
pollute and endanger nearby communities, especially residents of Standard Heights who live closest to
the plant. For more information on accidents at Exxon, visit labucketbrigade.org and click on Refinery
Accident Database.
1

ACCIDENTS AT EXXON

Maintenance
2%
No Information
Given
41%
Equipment
Failure
31%

Equipment
Design 6%

Seal or Gasket
2%

about what exactly happened. 41% of all accidents

in 2013 had no listed cause.2

Piping or
Tubing
5%
Power
Failure
7%
Process
Upset
6%

from accidents.2 Residents are

rarely notified when huge amounts of pollution
are released.

pollution totals are likely underestimated.

so

MAJOR 2013 ACCIDENTS

65,179 lbs
propylene

46,862 lbs
benzene,
ethylene,
butadiene,
sulfur dioxide

38,754 lbs
propylene

6,577 lbs
benzene
JAN 1 JAN 15

MAY 21

MAY 25 JUNE 17

16,556 lbs
benzene,
butadiene,
ethylene

5,985 lbs
propylene
AUG 12

TEN LARGEST ACCIDENTS IN 2013

SEPT 29

OCT 15

NOV 20

DEC 5

2013 Louisiana Bucket Brigade 4226 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 484-3433 www.labucketbrigade.org

Over 6,000 people live within one mile of the ExxonMobil

Refinery. These communities, including the community
of Standard Heights, are routinely exposed to pollution
from accidents and daily emissions at Exxon.

Over 95% of people living within a mile of Exxon are

African-American. This is much higher than the parishwide average of 45%. More than 66% of community
members closest to the plant are living below the
poverty line--triple the parish-wide number (20.9%).8,9

If you dont report pollution, its

like it never happened. Call or
text 504-272-7645. See other
reports at iWitnesspollution.org

Top Pollutants released in 2013

Pounds
Pollutant
Health Effects
Released
Sulfur Dioxide

204,683

Propylene

111,472

Impacts lung function,

triggers asthma3
Large doses cause
unconsciousness4

Flammable Vapor

105,672

A variety of health effects

Ethylene

17,538

Nitrogen Oxide

14,175

Volatile Organic
Compounds

12,884

Benzene

8,640

Large doses cause

unconsciousness5
Irritates eyes, nose, throat
and lungs6
Includes various
compounds
Drowsiness, rapid heart
rate, headaches, cancercausing7

There is power in numbers

and facilities are more likely to
take complaints from groups
seriously.

TAKE ACTION

WHO IS IMPACTED?

who are elected to protect

residents. Contact your local
officials when pollution occurs.
Tara Wicker, District 10
Councilwoman, (225) 389-5140

COMMUNITY VOICES
Can you describe your neighborhood? Describing my
neighborhood is highly toxic. The toxicity is in the water and the
air.
Describing a 2012 accident where 31,000 pounds of benzene
were spilled: I remember that there was no warning
whatsoever. And thats pretty bad on the neighborhood,
you know? And there was no warning afterwards, you
know. It was just done and thats just it.
Do you have any advice for Exxon? Sure, the
advice I have to give to Exxon is cut this
mess out. They dont care if it goes into the
atmosphere. Ive seen them at work. You
can take some care in what you do. They
dont take any care in what theyre doing.
References
1. http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/refinerycapacity/table5.pdf
2. www.louisianarefineryaccidentdatabase.org
3. http://www.epa.gov/oaqps001/sulfurdioxide/health.html
4. http://www.dow.com/productsafety/finder/pro.htm
5. http://www.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.display?p_card_id=0475
6. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=396&tid=69

6. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=396&tid=69
7. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics/facts.asp
8. http://echo.epa.gov/detailed-facilityreport?fid=110043804185
9. http://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US22033-eastbaton-rouge-parish-la/

Produced by Louisiana Bucket Brigade;

Report by Katie Moore, Kathryn Curtis,
Matt Kennedy, Colin Martin, Chris
Glueck; Community Interviews by
Amelia Rhodewalt, Jenna deBoisblanc,
James Hibbs; Edited by Anne Rolfes

2013 Louisiana Bucket Brigade 4226 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 484-3433 www.labucketbrigade.org