Environmental Toxins: Proposed Benzene Reduction in Houston

Bill White, the mayor of Houston, has proposed a new air quality measure that would reduce benzene levels in the city by negotiating with industrial plants from Houston to Galveston County. White hopes that the plan would reduce benzene concentrations along the Houston Ship Channel and in east Houston. A 50 percent reduction in benzene emissions from all factories along the Ship Channel would be needed to achieve safe levels. "Reductions from these facilities will result in the greatest improvement to our air quality," said Loren Roan, the mayor's senior environmental analyst.

Clean air quest knows no limits

White said that any polluting plant could be targeted by the plan. "So long as none of their benzene goes into the air we breathe, I have no problem with them. So long as they put stuff in the air that blows into the lungs of our citizens, I've got to stand up for our citizens," White said. "And I believe, the citizens of outlying communities will benefit as well." Operators of plants listed in the benzene plan say that they will be willing to cooperate.