Refinery
An industrial facility that processes crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petrochemical products. Refineries are major emitters of benzene, sulfur compounds, and volatile organic chemicals.
Related terms
Smokestack A tall industrial chimney that releases combustion gases and pollutants into the air. Often the visible point source for a facility's emissions. Fenceline Community A neighborhood immediately adjacent to an industrial plant, refinery, or military base. Residents literally share a fence line with the polluter and are the first to be hit by chemical spills, noise, or toxic plumes. Point-Source Pollution Area An area degraded by a single, identifiable source of pollution—such as a specific factory's smokestack or a specific wastewater discharge pipe. Sulfur Dioxide A toxic gas produced mainly by burning fossil fuels at power plants and industrial facilities. Contributes to acid rain and aggravates respiratory illness.