Key facts
- Huntsman Polyurethanes in Teesside, England, is under potential legal action from the Environment Agency (EA) over alleged breaches of its license concerning benzene emissions.
- Benzene emissions from the site increased from 13 tonnes in 2022 to 17 tonnes in 2024.
- An EA inspection in March found several permit breaches related to benzene emissions, a known carcinogen.
- Huntsman claims its emissions are compliant with permit conditions, while the EA is considering further enforcement action.
- Modeling commissioned by Huntsman indicated significant breaches of legally binding air quality standards.
Huntsman Polyurethanes, a chemical manufacturer in Teesside, England, is facing potential legal action from the Environment Agency (EA) over alleged breaches of its environmental permit related to benzene emissions. The EA is considering enforcement action after discovering that a new process implemented in 2023, intended to control benzene emissions, has periodically paused, allowing the carcinogenic chemical to be released directly into the air.
According to EA records, benzene emissions from the site increased from 13 tonnes in 2022 to 17 tonnes in 2024. An inspection in March identified several permit breaches, with EA documents noting that the deficiencies in the management system could lead to significant environmental or health impacts. Failure to comply with an environmental permit is a criminal offense.
A spokesperson for Huntsman stated that the emissions were not illegal and were fully compliant with permit conditions. However, the EA confirmed it is considering further enforcement action and has informed UK health agencies. Huntsman was instructed to conduct air quality modeling, which predicted significant breaches of legally binding air quality standards, with one scenario showing a 933% exceedance of the 24-hour limit.
Despite these findings, the EA's internal review suggested that predicted environmental concentrations remain below relevant standards and do not pose a significant risk to local sites like schools. This assessment has drawn criticism from scientists and campaigners. David Santillo of Greenpeace Research Laboratories described the EA's slow action as a "travesty," while Professor Ally Lewis of the University of York questioned the "laissez-faire" approach to managing such harmful pollutants.
Campaigners argue that the emissions highlight broader issues within the global plastic industry, linking proximity to plastic production facilities with negative health outcomes. Carole Zagrovic, a former community development specialist in the area, expressed dismay that such pollution continues, suggesting little has changed despite years of campaigning. Huntsman maintains its emissions are compliant and states its own monitoring data shows concentrations below applicable standards beyond the site boundary, though this data has not been shared with the EA.