A plastic manufacturing facility operated by Huntsman Polyurethanes in Teesside, North Yorkshire, is under investigation by the UK Environment Agency for potential violations of its environmental permit related to benzene emissions. Benzene is a known human carcinogen that causes leukaemia and has no safe exposure level according to the World Health Organization.
The company modified its production processes in 2023, decommissioning equipment designed to reduce benzene air emissions and replacing it with an alternative method controlled by a third party. However, regulatory documents reveal this new process periodically paused, resulting in direct benzene emissions to the atmosphere. Records show benzene emissions from the facility increased from 13 tonnes in 2022 to 17 tonnes in 2024. The Environment Agency was aware of operational issues in 2023 but did not conduct an investigation until this year.
Following an EA inspection in March, the agency documented multiple permit breaches related to benzene emissions. Modelling conducted by Huntsman assessed the environmental impact of these emissions and found significant breaches of air quality standards in all scenarios tested, with some predictions indicating benzene levels could exceed 24-hour limits by 933 percent. The EA’s subsequent internal review concluded predicted environmental concentrations remain below relevant standards, though the agency stated it is considering further enforcement action in consultation with its legal team.
Huntsman maintains its emissions are fully compliant with permit conditions and has provided its own air monitoring data suggesting concentrations beyond the site boundary are below applicable standards. However, the company has not shared this data with the Environment Agency or the Guardian. Multiple environmental scientists and academic experts have criticized both the emissions levels and the regulatory response, characterizing the situation as a serious public health concern. The case has drawn attention to broader pollution issues associated with plastic manufacturing globally.
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