A plastics manufacturer in northern England is facing potential legal action amid concerns over elevated emissions of benzene, a carcinogenic chemical linked to leukemia, the Environment Agency (EA) has indicated. The company, Huntsman Polyurethanes, operates within the Teesside chemical complex in Redcar, North Yorkshire, and is part of the global Huntsman Corporation, which reported annual revenues of $6 billion in 2025.

The EA is examining whether Huntsman Polyurethanes breached its environmental permit, a criminal offence that could lead to enforcement action. The investigation centers on changes made in 2023 when the company decommissioned a process that had been limiting benzene emissions, substituting it with a new system managed by a third party. EA documents reveal that this replacement technology periodically paused, releasing benzene directly into the atmosphere.

Records obtained from the EA show benzene emissions rose from 13 tonnes in 2022 to 17 tonnes in 2024. An inspection report from March detailed multiple permit breaches associated with benzene releases and noted the carcinogenic nature of benzene, warning that management deficiencies could lead to significant environmental and health impacts.

While Huntsman maintains that its benzene emissions comply with permit conditions and are not illegal, the EA has notified both the UK Health Security Agency and the Health and Safety Executive to assess potential public and occupational health risks. In March 2026, the EA required Huntsman to conduct modeling to evaluate the emissions’ impact. The initial model showed that benzene concentrations could exceed legally binding 24-hour air quality limits by as much as 933% in certain scenarios. However, an internal EA review later described the predicted environmental concentrations as below relevant thresholds, with no significant risks identified to nearby locations such as schools.

The handling of the case has drawn criticism from environmental experts and campaigners. David Santillo, a senior scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories, called the agency’s slow response a “travesty” and stressed the significance of the emissions. Ally Lewis, professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of York, expressed concern that regulatory standards might allow harmful pollution increases as long as they remain below certain limits. Roel Vermeulen, professor of environmental epidemiology at Utrecht University, recommended immediate benzene monitoring outside residential areas alongside efforts to reduce emissions.

Huntsman asserts that its own air monitoring indicates benzene levels beyond the facility’s boundary remain below applicable air quality standards, and that workplace exposure limits for staff on site are not exceeded. The company has declined to share its monitoring data publicly or with the EA.

Local campaigners and environmental groups argue these emissions reflect broader risks tied to the plastics industry, which has been linked internationally to adverse health outcomes near production sites. A Greenpeace report highlighted the multiple harms plastic production poses, including chemical pollution that affects both communities and ecosystems.

A former community specialist in Redcar, Carole Zagrovic, described a longstanding local normalization of cancer diagnoses, expressing dismay that hazardous emissions persist despite years of activism.

The EA confirmed it is continuing inspections and compliance checks in response to the site’s emissions and acknowledged that while Huntsman “failed to act proactively,” recent regulatory interventions have significantly improved the facility’s emission control systems since early February. The agency stated it is considering further enforcement measures to ensure rapid correction of remaining issues. Huntsman reiterated that its benzene emissions comply with current permit conditions as overseen by the EA.