General · 4 August 2026
Teesside plastic factory facing legal action over cancer-causing chemical emissions
The Environment Agency is weighing up legal steps against Huntsman Polyurethanes after benzene releases climbed to 17 tonnes in 2024. Linked to leukaemia, benzene is a carcinogenic substance that, according to the World Health Organization, cannot be safely encountered at any concentration. The firm insists its operations comply with permit conditions, though inspectors found multiple regulatory breaches.
Reported by theguardian.com · How we write briefs