Huntsman Polyurethanes, a plastic manufacturer located in Teesside, is facing potential legal action from the Environment Agency (EA). The EA is considering prosecuting the company for a potential breach of its licence, which is a criminal offence.
The potential legal action concerns emissions of benzene, a chemical classified as carcinogenic to humans with no safe level of exposure. EA documents show that a process implemented in 2023, intended to replace a method for reducing benzene air emissions, periodically paused, resulting in direct emissions of benzene 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 report from March recorded several permit breaches related to these emissions. The EA has informed the UK Health Security Agency and the Health and Safety Executive to assess any public or occupational health risks.
Huntsman was instructed by the EA in March 2026 to conduct modelling to assess the impact of the benzene emissions. This modelling found "significant" breaches of air quality standards in all scenarios considered, with one scenario predicting benzene emissions to exceed the 24-hour limit by 933%.