RELATED: El Paso leaders demand Marathon refinery answers after residents report noxious fumes<\/a><\/p>\n Escobar joins the list of local leaders demanding accountability and answers, such as City Rep. Josh Acevedo and County Commissioner David Stout.<\/p>\n “We shouldn\u2019t have to wonder whether our air is safe to breathe,” Acevedo said. “Marathon needs to explain exactly what its representatives knew, what they told me and me of the public, and why subsequent information appears to contradict those statements.”<\/p>\n El Paso leaders demand Marathon refinery answers after residents report noxious fumes<\/p>\n “Marathon Petroleum’s disdainful treatment of neighboring families and the elected officials who represent them is entirely unacceptable,” Stout said. “Our calls for transparency were largely met with silence, despite the fact that the refinery violated state-issued air permit limits by emitting an unpermitted surge of hazardous pollutants.”<\/p>\n RELATED: Environmental report: refinery releases tons of toxic gases into El Paso after incident<\/a><\/p>\n On August 6, TCEQ outlined the toxins released between the two incidents. <\/p>\n Below is a brief breakdown<\/p>\n First report<\/p>\n The agency said a total of 862 pounds of sulfur dioxide were released over 24 hours, from Tuesday at 7:47 p.m. to Wednesday at 7:47 p.m. The report said the incident began after a “Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) experienced a process upset and shut down.”<\/p>\n The report listed the sulfur dioxide emission limit as 0.01 pounds per hour, or 0.24 pounds over 24 hours, making the release 3,591 times over the limit.<\/p>\n What is sulfur dioxide?<\/p>\n The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says sulfur dioxide is a gas that can harm people and the environment. Exposure can cause breathing problems, particularly for people with asthma, and can damage trees and plants while contributing to acid rain.<\/p>\n Second report<\/p>\n On Tuesday, from 7:10 p.m. to 9:23 p.m., the refinery released 19 pounds of 1,3-butadiene and 8,897.9 pounds of propylene– or 4.4 tons– in 2 hours and 13 minutes. As in the first incident, the report said the release was triggered when an FCC \u201cexperienced a process upset and shut down.\u201d<\/p>\n Both contaminants have an emission limit of 1.25 pounds per hour, the report said.<\/p>\n What is 1,3-butadiene?<\/p>\n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines 1,3-butadiene as a \u201ccolorless gas with a mild, aromatic, gasoline-like odor. It is non-corrosive but highly flammable. The vapor is heavier than air.\u201d The CDC says breathing high concentrations can cause lethargy, headache, drowsiness, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia, unconsciousness, coma, and respiratory depression and death.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the National Cancer Institute has defined 1,3-butadiene as a human carcinogen, adding that it has been linked to an increased risk of leukemia.<\/p>\n What is propylene?<\/p>\n The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says propylene is a colorless gas that smells like petroleum and can cause dizziness, drowsiness and unconsciousness when inhaled.<\/p>\n Below are the full reports:<\/p>\n 48125021-1a9f-4410-bf8b-88e4ebedf0f5-TCEQSearchAirEmissionEventReportsIncidentDetailsPDF previewPreview PDF<\/p>\n View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n 546a9974-2f3b-4b2e-9839-83ce91bd6d20-TCEQSearchAirEmissionEventReportsIncidentDetails2PDF previewPreview PDF<\/p>\n View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n![\"El](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786581972_886_85b86c3b-8353-47ee-8b21-1680012be3c0-Copyofmostwanted.png\")
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