Admin

Toxic Industries News

Home

Try our RSS feed: https://toxic-industries.org/news/rss

Featured

Featured
Environmental Integrity Project
U.S. plastics industry that boomed over past decade is beginning to cool, new research shows
To help track the buildout of the plastics industry, EIP and Material Research (MR3) have developed an inventory of production capacities for plastics plants across the U.S. According to EIP's most recent update, 2025 saw a wave of setbacks for the industry. That includes the permanent closure of Westlake’s PVC plant in Aberdeen, Mississippi, as well as the company’s idling of several production units that support the production of PVC plastics in Lake Charles, Louisiana, because of “persistent, challenging market conditions.” Alpek also shut down its PET plastics facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as part of a “cost reduction” initiative.
Featured
Capital B
Chemical Plants Keep Exploding, but Trump’s EPA Is Rolling Back Safety Rules Anyway
For places like Hopewell, Virginia, where industrial accidents are routine, fewer protections could mean more danger for families living nearby.
www.reuters.com
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/marathon-petroleum-first-quarter-profit-beats-estimates-refining-margin-boost-2026-05-05/
(No preview available. Click to open.)
resource-recycling.com
APR, industry groups testify on overcapacity
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and other industry groups testified this week
stories.publiceye.ch
Toxic bananas – Chiquita’s broken bodies
In Guatemala, Chiquita’s banana empire relies on an outsourced and exploited workforce labouring at the heart of plantations that are nonetheless Rainforest Alliance certified. Wages below the legal minimum, exposure to aerially sprayed agrochemicals, and the abuse of highly-potent drug cocktails to keep up with punishing workloads: Public Eye’s investigation reveals what lies behind the label.
thelensnola.org
Toxic chemicals spread even as officials told Black residents of Roseland that they were safe | The Lens
Residents in Roseland, Louisiana, say a chemical explosion and spill tied to Smitty’s Supply has poisoned water and air, raising health concerns and allegations of a government cover-up as new documents reveal hidden risks.
www.wwltv.com
Áður en þú heldur áfram á YouTube
(No preview available. Click to open.)
lailluminator.com
Gulf Coast benzene emissions are among the highest in the nation • Louisiana Illuminator
Communities that sit on the industry fenceline get the brunt of the pollution, including a highly hazardous and carcinogenic chemical found in crude oil and gas called benzene.
publichealthwatch.org
A Prodigious Port Arthur Polluter Will Voluntarily Install Pollution Controls, With a Catch - Public Health Watch
Quirks in its permit give the Oxbow facility leeway to operate as usual, even with the new equipment.
thelensnola.org
This pesticide is so toxic it’s been banned in over 70 countries. But plants in the South are releasing it into the air.  | The Lens
Wayne County, Mississippi faces high Parkinson’s death rates as a nearby plant emits thousands of pounds of paraquat, a toxic herbicide linked to neurological disease and banned in dozens of countries.
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Chemical Manufacturer in Freeport for Illegally Releasing Chlorine and Other Chemicals That Harmed Texans’ Health
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Blue Cube Operations LLC (“Blue Cube”) for violating state law by releasing chlorine gas and other hazardous chemicals that endangered Texans’ health and safety.
inthesetimes.com
https://inthesetimes.com/article/wpp-smittys-supply-industrial-plant-explosion-rural-louisiana
(No preview available. Click to open.)
www.reuters.com
Coal, not gas: How China makes urea differently from the rest of the world
While most countries rely on natural gas, China’s coal‑based urea industry has cushioned it from the Iran war and the price shocks rippling through global fertilizer markets.
insideclimatenews.org
As a Plastic Waste Plant Violates Pollution Rules, Its Owner Makes the Case for a Second Location - Inside Climate News
Freepoint Eco-Systems seeks to become a major player in so-called “chemical recycling.” Some residents and environmental advocates are fighting back.
www.theguardian.com
Toxins plus climate harms likely cause of reduced fertility, study finds
Researchers find ‘alarming’ effect on fertility across global species from simultaneous exposures
www.reuters.com
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-supreme-court-hears-bayers-fight-against-roundup-lawsuits-2026-04-27/
(No preview available. Click to open.)
nypost.com
15 chemical spraying drones stolen in NJ as FBI investigates possible ‘nightmare scenario’: report
An alarmed FBI is concerned the chemical-spraying drones could be used to disperse biological or chemical weapons.
environmentamerica.org
STATEMENT: Bill to ban polluting takeout containers passes AK House with bipartisan support
(No preview available. Click to open.)
westvirginiawatch.com
Two workers dead, dozens injured after chemical incident in Kanawha County
Two people are dead and dozens of people are injured after a chemical incident Wednesday morning in the town of Institute, West Virginia.
tvpworld.com
‘Oil rain’ falls in Russia after Ukrainian strike on refinery
The unusual phenomenon came amid a large blaze in an oil refinery struck by Ukrainian drones.
www.cbc.ca
Aamjiwnaang First Nation files suit against INEOS over benzene emissions
Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s chief and council have initiated legal action against INEOS, a company they say is responsible for polluting the air, water and soil in their community, leading to multiple evacuation orders.
news.oilandgaswatch.org
U.S. plastics industry that boomed over past decade is beginning to cool, new research shows
Although the U.S. plastics industry has expanded rapidly over the past decade, new research by the Environmental Integrity Project and partners found that markets slowed down in 2025, with a wave of plant closures, construction delays, and production cutbacks across the plastic industry.
redflag.org.au
A window into the evil of the plastics industry
REVIEW: Plastic Inc: Big oil, big money and the plan to trash our future. By Beth Gardiner (Monoray, London, 2026).
www.ciel.org
Beyond the Burn: Why Santa Marta Must Tackle the Petrochemical Build Out
Addressing petrochemicals at Santa Marta requires deploying targeted levers to accelerate the overall fossil fuel phaseout. One entry point is the sector’s current financial instability. Overcapacity in plastics has led to low utilization and slim margins, and plant closures. This provides a strategic opening to push for managed decline pathways rather than continued expansion.
phys.org
Industrial chemical leaks could push ozone layer recovery back by 7 years
The recovery of the ozone layer in Earth's stratosphere could be delayed by several years, according to an international study led by Swiss research institution Empa which included contributions from University of Bristol researchers. The cause is persistent emissions of so-called feedstock chemicals, which are still permitted as raw materials in industry. These ozone-depleting substances have so far been excluded from international agreements because, according to the current study, their emissions and use have been significantly underestimated.
www.cbc.ca
Imperial Oil pipeline spills 843,000 litres northwest of Cold Lake, Alta.
An Imperial Oil pipeline spilled 843,000 liters of bitumen emulsion.
www.wric.com
Hopewell chemical plant agrees to $2 million settlement over repeated air pollution violations
AdvanSix agreed to a roughly $2 million settlement over repeated air pollution violations between 2021 and 2023.
www.theadvocate.com
Should Louisiana chemical plants be forced to install air monitors? A new attempt stalls.
A new attempt to force Louisiana's largest industrial plants to install real-time air monitoring along their fencelines has stalled in the Legislature despite the bill being watered down to try to respond to industry concerns.
www.cbc.ca
Aging oil wells on her land are making this Alberta farmer's life miserable. She's not alone
Advocates call for stronger rules, more research to protect residents from oil-and-gas emissions
cen.acs.org
Will community air monitoring bring 'Cancer Alley' cleaner air?
Armed with sensors and real-time data, community groups further their fight against dangerous air pollution in Louisiana.
www.theage.com.au
Explosions, toxic smoke as massive fire breaks out at Geelong refinery
Flames up to 60 metres in height are engulfing the Corio refinery, which supplies more than 50 per cent of Victoria’s and 10 per cent of Australia’s fuel.
www.aljazeera.com
French court rules cement giant Lafarge guilty of funding Syria ‘terrorism’
Long-running case regarding Lafarte's actions amid Syrian civil war sees company ordered to pay fine, executives jailed.
insideclimatenews.org
Chemical Threats Nearby? Trump’s EPA Doesn’t Want You to Know
Climate change is making the risk of disastrous chemical accidents more likely. But the EPA wants to gut recently enhanced safety requirements for hazardous facilities.
www.thewirechina.com
How Big Pharma’s China Trials Are Escaping Scrutiny
U.S. supply chains with connections to Xinjiang and the Chinese military are heavily regulated — just not for pharmaceuticals.
insideclimatenews.org
A Hunger Strike Ends, but an ‘Unreasonable’ Woman’s Battle Against Corporate Polluters Marches On
Four decades into her crusade against Texas petrochemical plants, a retired shrimper remains determined to fight Dow, the largest chemical company in America.
www.cdpr.ca.gov
Syngenta Voluntarily Cancels Registration of Paraquat Pesticides in California
Effective April 1, 2026, pesticide registrant Syngenta has voluntarily cancelled registration of the pesticide Gramoxone® SL 3.0 in California, a product that contains the active ingredient paraquat-dichloride (paraquat). Paraquat is an herbicide used to kill weeds and can only be used by professionally licensed applicators. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and United States […]
www.freshetnews.ca
Burnaby sounds alarm over rail-shipped liquid chlorine
Burnaby sent a letter to the federal transportation minister raising concerns about ‘intolerable’ risks posed by liquid chlorine from a North Vancouver plant
thewire.in
Remember Trump's Announcement of a Texan Refinery with Reliance to Invest $300bn? ‘Only $40m’ Says FT
Reliance is yet to issue a statement or notify the stock exchange.
www.sciencedaily.com
Unusual airborne toxin detected in the U.S. for the first time
Scientists searching for air pollution clues stumbled onto something unexpected: toxic MCCPs drifting through the air for the first time in the Western Hemisphere. The likely source—fertilizer made from sewage sludge—points to a hidden route for contamination.
wpln.org
AES fined $3M for 'indifference' to worker safety in blast that killed 16
The deadly explosion at the AES munitions plant could have ignited due to dangerous working conditions, according to state investigators levying a record fine.
scitechdaily.com
Beyond “Safe Levels”: Study Challenges What We Know About Pesticides and Cancer
Pesticide exposure is associated with increased cancer risk and early cellular disruption, especially in heavily exposed communities, calling for new approaches to health risk evaluation.
theintercept.com
DHS Launches Massive “Less Lethal” Chemical Weapons Buying Spree
Federal agents’ indiscriminate use of tear gases and “less-lethal” projectiles has become a mainstay of protest crackdowns.
www.theguardian.com
US agency proposes rolling back rules for safe disposal of toxic coal ash
Advocates warn changes could increase risks of pollutants contaminating water and exposure to toxic waste
news-pravda.com
Russia says BASF “tired of the sanctions"
"German chemical giant BASF is tired of the sanctions and European regulations and has instead built a plant of nearly urban size in China, where the procurement of Russian gas is also possible," says Russian state media.
miamiindependent.com
The CCP's Two-Front War On American Sovereignty: From Midwest Statehouses To Florida Campaign Accounts
A refrigerant company called iGas USA, de facto controlled by a Chinese state-controlled enterprise [the F-gas manufacturer, Zhejiang Juhua] spent millions purchasing access to Republican politicians in Florida.
globalwitness.org
How fossil fuel companies avoid criticism on X
Fossil fuel companies go to extraordinary lengths to exclude people who might criticise them from seeing their ads
dnyuz.com
Suspect in Hacking of Climate Activists Is Extradited to New York
Amit Forlit, who has been charged by U.S. prosecutors with running a so-called hacking-for-hire operation that targeted environmental groups, has
vietnam-aujourdhui.info
Taiwan and the Formosa disaster in Vietnam : the sound of silence
Ten years after a toxic waste dump poisoned Vietnam’s coast, the Taiwanese company responsible, both governments, and even the victims themselves have maintained a stunning silence.
nltimes.nl
Foundation files lawsuit to force Chemours to halt PFAS emissions
The foundation PFAS Vrij Green Claim is preparing a new lawsuit against chemical manufacturer Chemours in Dordrecht on behalf of nearby residents. The group is asking the court to order the company to halt PFAS emissions immediately and to award compensation to residents for what it calls “damage to their living environment.” The action targets people living in municipalities across the southern part of Zuid-Holland, particularly around Dordrecht.
www.breakfreefromplastic.org
Two Arrests in Texas for Peaceful Protest Against Dow Chemical; Public Meeting Announced for Dow’s Water Discharge Permit | Break Free From Plastic
77-Year-Old Wilson arrested while attempting to deliver a letter at the Dow Chemical plastics plant in Seadrift, and Dan Lê arrested while disrupting Dow CEO’s keynote remarks at the CERAWeek conference in Houston
sdvoice.info
California Updates Pollution Mapping Tool to Identify Communities Most at Risk
With low-income communities and communities of color facing growing pollution burdens, California has expanded a tool to identify where people are disproportionately affected and how.
www.starnewsonline.com
New PFAS research reveals worrying findings in Wilmington residents' blood
A recent analysis of historical blood samples found high levels of ultrashort-chain PFAS, which were previously thought not to accumulate in the body.
news.chemnet.com
2 dead, 19 injured, 65 held accountable, 10 facing criminal charges
Shandong Provincial People's Government Approval of the Investigation Report on the Major Explosion Accident at Weifang Gaomi Shandong Youdao Chemical Co., Ltd. on "May 27"
dailypost.ng
Styrofoam ban in Lagos, Oyo puts Ogun on edge
Amid the growing ban of styrofoam and single use plastic in parts of Nigeria due to its severe environmental pollution, Ogun State has been caught
en.people.cn
BASF puts multibillion-euro chemical complex in China into full operation
The opening ceremony of BASF (Guangdong) integrated site is held in Zhanjiang City, south China's G
www.chemistryworld.com
Preliminary results suggest high lead levels can be found in discount children’s clothing
Tests of lead levels in 12 children's t-shirts from various fast fashion retailers exceeds US federal limits
www.thenewlede.org
Even when EPA finds a pesticide cancer risk, agency rarely requires warnings
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is failing to put warnings on pesticides linked to cancer — even when the agency itself determined a product’s ingredients are carcinogenic, according to two new analyses of federal data.
www.timesofisrael.com
Iranian missile attack sparks blaze in chemical plant, fears of hazardous leak
No injuries in strike on Neot Hovav industrial zone; Environmental Protection Ministry later gives all clear after locals told to stay away; another missile hits Beersheba, lightly injuring 11
www.thenewlede.org
Proposed EPA rollbacks would put communities at greater risk for chemical disasters, workers and advocates warn
WASHINGTON — Workers, lawmakers and environmental advocates gathered  this week to speak out against a proposed federal rule that would roll back protections for people who live near hazardous facilities across the country.
news.griffith.edu.au
Majority of Australia’s high-use pesticides banned overseas - Griffith News
Study finds 84 per cent of pesticides used in Australian agriculture are banned overseas.
retractionwatch.com
The Lancet retracts half-century-old unsigned commentary on talc for undisclosed industry ties
SewcreamStudio/iStock The Lancet has retracted a 49-year-old unsigned commentary on the safety of cosmetic talc after two researchers discovered the author was a paid consultant to Johnson & Jo…
phys.org
Agricultural soils exposed to controversial weedkiller may be unexpected breeding ground for hospital 'superbugs'
Each year, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is responsible for an estimated 1.1 to 1.4 million deaths worldwide. Now, scientists have found evidence that the spread of AMR isn't always driven by bacteria evolving to resist the antibiotics themselves: rather, certain weedkillers can have the same effect.
www.wbir.com
AES plant lacked fire protection before blast that killed 16
According to a report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. a factory holding more than 23,000 pounds of explosives that exploded and killed 16 workers and injured 7 others was not equipped with working sprinklers or fire protection systems.
foe.org
Major Banks Backing Risky US Petrochemical Expansion
Major US and global banks have provided US $133 billion in financing to companies expanding petrochemical production in the United States since 2019 — despite growing evidence that the sector is environmentally destructive, financially unstable, and increasingly exposed to legal liability — according to a new report
www.mercurynews.com
Hazardous materials spill in Concord hospitalizes four
The spill happened on Bisso Lane in Concord.
www.centerforfoodsafety.org
Corteva Cancels Toxic Enlist Duo Herbicide After Years of Legal Pressure
EPA's approval of 2,4-D and glyphosate mixture finally undone following decade-long campaign and Center for Food Safety litigation
www.thestate.com
SC school reportedly built on land coated with polluting industry’s waste
South Carolina’s environmental agency plans to test the soil at an elementary school near Darlington for toxic forever chemicals after learning the property may have been a disposal site for a textile plant’s contaminated sewer sludge.
www.selc.org
What is 1,4-dioxane pollution?
It’s no secret that industrial chemicals are making their way from factories and other big polluting facilities into our bodies and the environment. A particularly concerning industrial chemical to watch is 1,4-dioxane.
www.citizensforethics.org
India's Reliance Industries paid Trump $10 million before he took office. It keeps getting wins from Trump.
Trump reported on his 2025 financial disclosure that an arm of Reliance paid a $10 million “development fee” to Trump’s company for a “license agreement” on a project to be located in Mumbai.
www.commondreams.org
Dark Day for California' as Oil Flows Through Pipeline Behind Major Spill After Trump War Order
Sable Offshore Corp. confirmed that oil is flowing again thanks to a war-related order from President Donald Trump. The Center for Biological Diversity renewed warnings about reviving a pipeline that “caused one of California’s largest oil spills on the Santa Barbara coast” over a decade ago.
www.oilandgasmiddleeast.com
Egypt Seeks Financing for New 3.5 MTPA Petrochemicals Complex
Egypt is pursuing financing for a new petrochemicals complex with a capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum, aiming to boost industrial growth and attract foreign investment
www.publicsource.org
How Shell’s cracker has polluted more than permitted with no new fines for three years
A Beaver County ethylene plant operated by Shell Polymers Monaca continues to exceed limits on nitrogen oxide, as the official permitting process drags.
www.dailymaverick.co.za
High court urged to permit damages claims against agrochemicals giant UPL
A group of Durban residents has urged the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court to authorise a class action lawsuit against the Indian agrochemicals giant UPL for health injuries and financial dama…
www.booker.senate.gov
Booker Demands FDA Ban the Use of Four Chemicals Known to Cause Cancer from American’s Food Supply
Senator Cory Booker urged the approval of a petition that would "remove four solvents: benzene, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene (TCE) as food ingredients or as substances used in the production of food.”
law.ucla.edu
Spotlight on the Top 25 Methane Plumes in 2025: Oil & Gas
This list shows the 25 sites in the oil and gas sector with the largest detected and quantified emissions rates worldwide, as seen by key satellite instruments in 2025. (We published an initial list in November here.)
www.theguardian.com
Revealed: the world’s worst mega-leaks of methane driving global heating
Exclusive: Fixing a leak can be simple and equivalent to closing a coal power station, making lack of action maddening, say analysts
earthjustice.org
The Bay She Loves Is Choked with Microplastics. She’s Taking the Polluter to Court.
Earthjustice is representing Diane Wilson as she joins a legal challenge to a massive plastics facility owned by Dow and Union Carbide.
www.oncologynurseadvisor.com
Parent and Child Petrol Exposure Linked to Higher Childhood Leukemia Risk
Maternal and paternal exposure to benzene and diesel exhaust were linked to increased AML and ALL risk.
www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com
Fatal gas release at chemical facility prompts push for safe planning protocols
Two workers died and 13 were injured after the release of about 27,000 pounds of hydrogen sulfide.
toxicfreefuture.org
Cancer-linked chemicals found in hair products marketed and sold to women of color by Sally Beauty
An independent analysis finds that more than one in six of hair products reviewed (17%) sold by Sally Beauty and marketed primarily to Black and brown women for textured hair contain chemicals linked to cancer and other serious health harms.
www.downtoearth.org.in
Poisoned promise: India among four major contributors to global pesticide toxicity
Pesticide use is rising not just in volume but also intensity, posing major threats to ecologically important species as well as to human health. And this pesti
environmentalintegrity.org
2024 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Data | Environmental Integrity
In 2009, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued regulations that required large sources of greenhouse gases to report their emissions each year. This program, known as the Greenhouse Gas…
reporterbrasil.org.br
Global banks stay silent on ties to Indigenous-opposed project in the Amazon
Swiss bank UBS and U.S. firms Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Rockefeller hold shares in Brazil Potash, whose Amazon mine is opposed by the Mura Indigenous people and challenged by federal prosecutors
chinalaborwatch.org
Overseas Labor Risk Brief: Social Media Posts Reveal Accidents, Enforcement, Wage Arrears, and Spillover Risks
China Labor Watch (CLW) reviewed and compiled a total of 139 Chinese-language social media posts from December 2025 to February 2026 concerning labor rights violations, human trafficking, and other issues impacting Chinese workers.
www.businesskorea.co.kr
NCC Negative Margins Accelerated As Ethylene Spread Collapses
Domestic NCC (Naphtha Cracking Center) operators have been pushed to the brink of crisis as the petrochemical industry’s supply chain has been shaken by the fa
blog.ucs.org
Iran War Shows Why Farmers Need an Off-Ramp from Their Fertilizer Dependence
The spike in fertilizer prices driven by the war is an unfortunate reminder that US agriculture needs to shift to a more sustainable model.
www.theguardian.com
One of Britain’s last major chemical plants at risk as energy prices surge
If costs stay high for the next three months, US owner Peter Huntsman says he will close the site on Teesside
india.mongabay.com
Oleum leak puts spotlight on safety and pollution in a chemical hub
An oleum gas leak at an industrial unit in Maharashtra’s Palghar district prompted the evacuation of nearby schools and factories.
www.plasticsnews.com
In harmony against pellet pollution
13 musicians from the Lone Star State — including Kasey Musgraves, Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry and Shawn Colvin — are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott’s administration to crack down on plastics leaking from factories into local waters.
healthpolicy-watch.news
War And Herbicide: Renewed Focus On Trump’s Support For ‘Elemental Phosphorus’
Monsanto, the only US company that produces white phosphorus, supplies it to ICL Group (formerly Israel Chemicals Ltd).
www.personalcareinsights.com
Pakistan faces global pressure to “walk the talk” on toxic skin-whitening creams
Over 20 international health and environmental organizations have called on Pakistan’s Competition Commission (CCP) to halt the manufacture and global trade of mercury-containing skin-whitening creams. The move intensifies scrutiny of the country’s cosmetics manufacturing sector, after a recent testing round found that 35 of 37 creams manufactured in Pakistan contained mercury levels thousands of times higher than the legal limit. The coalition, which includes the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG), the California Department of Public Health, and NGOs across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, has sent a letter to the CCP calling for stronger enforcement of existing bans on mercury-based formulations.
www.who.int
Conflict deepens health crisis across Middle East, WHO says
In Iran, petroleum fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure exposed nearby communities to toxic pollutants that potentially cause breathing problems, eye and skin irritation, and contaminated water and food sources.
www.fox26houston.com
LyondellBasell industrial fire out in Pasadena
Multiple agencies were called to a reported industrial fire following a "flaring" at a Pasadena facility.
tulanehullabaloo.com
New study finds USEPA massively underestimated pollution in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley
Measurements of toxic air pollution in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” show pollutant levels far higher than federal estimates, according to recent research.
dnyuz.com
Inside the Dirty, Dystopian World of AI Data Centers
Photographs by Landon Speers As we drove through southwest Memphis, KeShaun Pearson told me to keep my window down—our destination
pulse.mk.co.kr
LG Chem declares force majeure on DOTP exports amid Middle East crisis
LG Chem has declared force majeure on some export contracts for dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), a plasticizer product, after disruptions in raw material supplies linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
www.indianchemicalnews.com
PM Modi lays foundation stone for Rs. 5,514 crore polypropylene project at BPCL Kochi Refinery
The project will establish a 400 KTPA polypropylene unit along with associated facilities for the production of six grades of homopolymer polypropylene
ipn.md
Fire at a polystyrene factory in Arad, Romania
A polystyrene factory in the city of Arad, Romania, was engulfed in flames on Wednesday morning. The fire resulted in large amounts of smoke covering part of the city.
www.wvgazettemail.com
DEP records contradict gas and oil industry clams as aboveground storage tank rollback bill advances
Representatives of West Virginia’s oil and gas have claimed the industry is a trustworthy steward of aboveground storage tanks. A records request revealed more than 2,300 violations since the start of 2021, an average of 1.2 violations a day.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Massive fire breaks out on Amaravati Seed access road; AP govt orders probe
Vijayawada: A major fire accident created panic on the Seed Access Road in Amaravati on Wednesday, as flames engulfed stacks of PVC pipelines meant fo.
theconversation.com
Oil isn’t just fuel: Iran conflict could disrupt markets for everything from plastics to fertilizers
Petrochemicals derived from oil and fossil fuels underlie the production of many consumer goods − and many you wouldn’t know from looking at the final product.
www.amnestyusa.org
Middle East: All Parties to the Conflict Must Refrain from Unlawful Attacks on Energy Infrastructure
“The potential for vast, predictable, and devastating civilian harm arising from strikes targeting energy infrastructure, including uncontrolled deadly fires, major disruptions to essential services, environmental damage, and severe long-term health risks for millions, means there is a substantial risk such attacks would violate international humanitarian law and in some cases could amount to war crimes,” said Heba Morayef, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
www.thehansindia.com
RIL enters US energy sector with Texas refinery deal
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries will partner in building the first new oil refinery in the US in nearly 50 years. The refinery will be located in Brownsville, Texas, and is designed to run entirely on US shale oil, according to America First Refining (AFR), the firm leading the project.
www.kristv.com
EPA rollback on emissions rules raises concerns for Northside neighbors living near refineries
Northside Corpus Christi residents near Refinery Row worry about EPA's rollback of the Endangerment Finding and what it could mean for air quality
www.wrex.com
Eight Injured in Chemical Exposure at Byron Nuclear Plant
Eight workers were taken to local hospitals Tuesday after a chemical exposure at the Byron Clean Energy Center. Officials say the workers were transported as a precaution after a small amount of a common, non-radiological chemical used in plant systems escaped from a holding tank inside the turbine building during an outage at the facility.
insideclimatenews.org
There’s Something in the Air in South Portland, Maine
Emissions test results are in on the city’s 120 petroleum storage tanks. One activist scientist says they are high enough “to merit serious attention,” while a Citgo spokesman says the company is taking residents’ concerns seriously and working with state regulators.
ieefa.org
Ammonia build-out: Recipe for risks
The U.S. ammonia industry faces multiple challenges and risks in building out ammonia production intended for export to a global energy market that will likely be limited.
biologicaldiversity.org
EPA to Consider ‘Emergency’ Approval of PFAS Pesticide Tetflupyrolimet on Arkansas, Missouri Rice Crops
The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is considering granting “emergency” approval for a PFAS pesticide, meaning it will not have to undergo important safety reviews required as part of the normal pesticide approval process. Since President Trump took office the agency has approved two PFAS pesticides and proposed approving three more through the normal non-emergency review process.
environmentalintegrity.org
EIP Releases 2024 Industrial Greenhouse Gas Data After Trump Halts Reporting Program
Washington, DC – The Trump Administration has put on hold EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which makes climate pollution data from industry available to the public.
democracyforward.org
Federal Court Orders DHS to Immediately Stop Flooding Portland Homes with Toxic Chemical Munitions
Portland, Ore. — A federal court today ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately stop deploying tear gas, smoke grenades, pepper balls, and other chemical munitions in ways…
www.forbes.com
How Tear Gas Affects Health — A Toxicologist Explains
Federal immigration agents are facing intense public and congressional scrutiny, lawsuits and federal court orders over their frequent use of tear gas and other chemical irritants for crowd control…. . Despite widespread coverage of these incidents, most Americans know little about the health effects of tear gas.
www.cleveland.com
Rural Ohioans finally fight against poisonous fracking waste the legislature has welcomed
A long-overdue rebellion is brewing in southeast Ohio — one directed squarely at the fracking wastewater industry, and at the state lawmakers who have spent years letting it hollow out the ground beneath rural communities.
www.euractiv.com
PFAS pollution: French citizens take on chemical giants
Case billed as Europe's largest ever class action lawsuit over contamination by 'forever chemicals'
www.thebradentontimes.com
Phosphogypsum Stack Expansion
Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC is proposing to expand its Riverview stack, located in Hillsborough County, by nearly 180 acres and fill roughly 35 acres of wetlands, ponds, ditches, and other water bodies to the west of its plant.
www.wastedive.com
Montgomery County, Maryland, explores alternatives as incinerator struggles
Two of three units at the county’s Resource Recovery Facility have come offline amid serious dioxin leaks. The issues have renewed pressure on long-gestating zero waste plans.
www.tandfonline.com
Global patterns of chemical incident reporting from open-source intelligence, 2023–2024
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) provides an event-based surveillance approach to identify hazards, health outcomes, reporting patterns, and geospatial trends to support public health preparedness and response.
www.nationthailand.com
Middle East conflict disrupts Thai industrial supply chains
TOA says raw materials may last only 20 days, Mama flags packaging film shortages, and SCG has suspended its Rayong olefins plant.
cleantechnica.com
Toxic Coal Pollution Spikes to 25-Year High Under Trump
Pollution from coal-fired power plants has reached a quarter-century high under the Trump administration. This massive spike comes as the Trump administration touts rollbacks of bedrock public health safeguards, exemptions for polluting coal plants from emission standards, and handouts to coal plants across the country.
veritenews.org
Cancer Alley factory to cease production of toxic herbicide banned in more than 70 countries
Multinational agriculture technology company Syngenta announced last Tuesday (March 3) that it will cease global production of the herbicide paraquat by the end of June, including at its facility in Iberville Parish. Banned in more than 70 countries, paraquat is repackaged and distributed in the United States from Syngenta’s manufacturing site in St. Gabriel, a small city that sits along a heavily-industrialized stretch of the Mississippi River.
www.prnewswire.com
America First Refining Secures Landmark 20-Year Offtake Agreement and Capital Investment to Construct First New U.S. Refinery in 50 years.
/PRNewswire/ -- America First Refining announced a historic milestone in U.S. energy production: the construction of the first new oil refinery built in the...
www.chemanalyst.com
Are Feedstock Shortages and War Risks Pushing Petrochemical Prices to New Highs?
DEG prices shot up in the first part of March 2026, increasing by about 17% in Asia and 5% in Europe, mainly due to mounting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that disrupted logistics and raised feedstock costs.
www.theguardian.com
Bombing of Iran’s oil infrastructure to have major environmental fallout, experts warn
Monitors admit they are struggling to keep track of the environmental disasters arising from widening war
finimize.com
LyondellBasell Gets A Fresh Tailwind From Tighter Plastics Supply
RBC upgraded the chemical maker as Hormuz-linked disruptions and higher oil prices lift polyethylene margins, while a dividend cut frees up more than $500 million a year in cash.
finimize.com
RBC Upgrades Dow As Plastics Margins Improve
RBC expects Dow margins to improve as supply disruptions in Europe and the Middle East tighten availability. RBC sees tighter polyethylene supply, lower US feedstock costs, and higher utilization lifting earnings, raising its price target to $40.
blogs.edf.org
The Hidden Price Tag of Flaring: Why Burning Off Natural Gas Costs Society Billions  - Market Forces
This blog post was authored by Lauren Beatty, EDF Economist; Mark Agerton, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis; and Sophia Salzer, pre-doctoral researcher at UC Davis. From space, parts of West Texas and North Dakota shine brightly at night the same way that sprawling metropolises do. However, the glow isn’t from skyscrapers or highways: it’s from natural gas flares. Flaring — the burning of excess natural ...
earthworks.org
New Data Shows Super-Emitter Oil and Gas Pollution across the Appalachian Basin, Unknowingly Impacting Communities
A new report from the Gas Leaks Project and Earthworks found nearly 100 oil and gas emission events in the Appalachian Basin,
www.texasstandard.org
After a decade of missteps, Corpus Christi careens toward water catastrophe
City officials expect to reach a “water emergency” within months and run out of water next year. That would halt jet fuel deliveries to Texas airports, hike gas prices and trigger a local economic disaster without precedent, former officials say.
unctad.org
Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Implications for global trade and development |
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.
www.france24.com
The Observers - Venezuela: 'At night, the east of the country is brighter than Caracas because of gas flaring'
Venezuela continues to burn natural gas produced as a byproduct of oil extraction in a process called gas flaring, which wastes a valuable resource and also has negative consequences for the environment…
www.stlmag.com
Syngenta says it will stop making paraquat, weedkiller linked to Parkinson’s disease
This story was commissioned by the River City Journalism Fund Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta announced last week it will halt global production of paraquat by the end of June, citing economic pressures from smaller chemical companies that make similar versions of the toxic pesticide. Get a fresh take on the day's top news Subscribe to […]
theweek.com
The growing concern over braiding hair chemicals
Dangerous ingredients found in hair products have created a toxic twist in the beauty industry for Black women
packaging-journal.de
Court strengthens Canada's regulation of plastics - packaging journal
Canada's Court of Appeal confirms the categorisation of plastic products as „toxic“. This means that the basis for stricter plastic regulations remains in place.
airqualitynews.com
‘Black Rain’ falls on Iran as oil fires trigger health crisis
A thick, toxic cloud hangs over Tehran following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities, with residents reporting ‘unbreathable’ air, widespread illness and black, oily rain that experts warn is more dangerous than acid rain. On March 8th, four fuel depots in and around the Iranian capital were hit…
www.rivieramm.com
Video: LPG leak temporarily halts Puerto Quetzal tanker operations
A brief LPG leak during discharge from a gas carrier stopped terminal activity and vessel traffic at Puerto Quetzal before restrictions were lifted
www.khan.co.kr
Tehran blanketed by toxic gas and smoke after oil storage tank explosions ··· ‘Highly acidic oil rain’ alert
The AP reported on the 8th that airstrikes by the United States and Israel caused explosions at major oil storage facilities around Tehran, the Iranian capital, spreading toxic gases and blanketing...
www.enca.com
Tehran plunged into darkness by smoke from burning oil
Residents of Tehran woke up on Sunday morning to find it was still dark outside, an apocalyptic sight created by thick black smoke billowing from oil depots hit by Israeli strikes.
okcfox.com
Ponca City residents file DEQ complaints over black dust tied to Continental Carbon
Black dust complaints in Ponca City have piled up over the past two years, with residents blaming Continental Carbon for soot-like fallout, smoke and even oil s
americancommunitymedia.org
California Updates Pollution Mapping Tool to Identify Communities Most at Risk
CalEnviroScreen5.0 combines environmental, health and socioeconomic data sets to show which communities experience the greatest pollution impacts.
www.newindianexpress.com
The India impact of US’ forever wars
Nimish Seth runs a factory in Nashik producing hard luggage. He says he had never imagined the Iran war would make him consider shutting operations. Raw plastic
hydrocarbonprocessing.com
Shell-CNOOC China JV to close 1.2-MMtpy steam cracker due to feedstock disruption
Shell's south China-based petrochemical complex, a joint venture with China's CNOOC, plans to shut a steam cracker soon and has told domestic customers it is unable to supply some products.
www.jpost.com
Israeli Air Force strikes oil facilities in Iran
Earlier, Iranian state media had reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had targeted the Haifa oil refinery in response.
www.brownfieldagnews.com
Missouri court grants preliminary approval for $7.3 billion nationwide Roundup settlement - Brownfield Ag News
A state court in Missouri has granted preliminary approval to a proposed U.S nationwide class action settlement to resolve current and future claims against Roundup™. Bayer has proposed a $7.3 billion national settlement. Brian Naber president for the North America, Australia, and New Zealand Region for Bayer Crop Science and a member of the Global Executive […]
www.loe.org
Living on Earth: Justice Advances in Cancer Alley
Descendants of enslaved people fighting pollution in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ have been greenlit for a trial. Their lawsuit alleges the St. James Parish government discriminated against Black residents by repeatedly permitting industrial plants in predominantly Black districts while shielding mostly white districts from industry. Monique Harden, a longtime environmental justice attorney and advocate, joins Host Jenni Doering to explain how the 13th amendment outlawing slavery plays into the case.
www.kfyrtv.com
Coal industry celebrates rollback of toxic emissions rule, going back to 2012 standard
Since 2012, the government introduced a rule known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants, or simply MATS. It required plant operators to limit the amount of pollutants they could release.
www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com
Shintech announces $3.4-B expansion at Louisiana petrochemicals complex
Shintech Louisiana, LLC announced a $3.4-billion investment to bolster its manufacturing capabilities in the state. The project includes construction of a second ethylene unit and a fourth chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer unit at the company’s existing Iberville Parish facility.
seekingalpha.com
Dow, LyondellBasell upgraded at KeyBanc with Iran conflict seen boosting U.S. petrochemicals
Iran conflict could tighten global petrochemical supply, boosting U.S. ethylene/PE margins.
www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
Diane Wilson Launches Hunger Strike After Dow Requests Legalization of Microplastics Discharge in Texas
Diane Wilson initiated a hunger strike demanding action in response to Dow’s recent request to the State of Texas to legalize its discharge of microplastics.
www.meed.com
Bahrain says refinery fire from Iran strike has been contained
Damage is currently being assessed
www.plasticstoday.com
Plastics Supply Chain Collateral Damage in Iran War
Chemical exports through critical shipping route threatened by regional warfare, creating opportunities for US manufacturers while hurting competitors.
www.vortexa.com
Asia crackers declare force majeure over naphtha crunch
Escalating tensions in the Middle East Gulf have placed 57%,of Asia’s naphtha imports under a potential threat. Northeast Asia is the most vulnerable to MEG naphtha supply disruptions. Some import-dependent ethylene crackers in Asia have started to reduce operating rates in response to supply concerns,
www.motherjones.com
Chevron’s hometown paper is quiet on climate. Guess who owns it?
The Richmond Standard has little to say about the gas flares, haze, and smoke plumes that shape life in its California community.
capitalbnews.org
Chemical Plants Keep Exploding, but Trump’s EPA Is Rolling Back Safety Rules Anyway
For places like Hopewell, Virginia, where industrial accidents are routine, fewer protections could mean more danger for families living nearby.
capitalandmain.com
After Years of Gains, GOP Pushes to Roll Back Chemical Regulations
In Texas, environmental activists and experts raise the alarm about the impact on the state's petrochemical industry.
www.merkley.senate.gov
Merkley Investigates Chemical Industry Insiders Taking Over Critical EPA Chemical Safety Office
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) subcommittee overseeing environmental justice, chemical safety, and waste management—today sent an oversight letter following reports of former chemical industry lobbyists filling key positions at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). […]
comingcleaninc.org
Facing lawsuits and public outrage, Syngenta will no longer manufacture paraquat
Syngenta announced that it would cease global production of the toxic herbicide paraquat by the end of June 2026, at a...
www.tradingview.com
LYB & Covestro Decide Permanent Shut Down of PO11 Unit at Maasvlakte
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. LYB and Covestro announced to permanently shut the Propylene Oxide Styrene and Monomer (POSM) production unit (PO11) at the Maasvlakte site in the Netherlands. The Maasvlakte site is a joint venture between the two companies. This decision was taken after careful cons…
www.nola.com
Court rules Louisiana parish held illegal secret meetings on proposed chemical plant
A Louisiana appellate court has ruled that St. James Parish officials violated state law when they held closed-door meetings about a proposed chemical plant, finding they deliberately structured the sessions to keep the public in the dark.
www.globaldata.com
Tanker suffers explosion and oil leak off Kuwaiti coast
A tanker anchored south-east of Kuwait’s Mubarak Al Kabeer port experienced a large explosion on its port side, began taking on water and leaked oil into the sea, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The vessel’s master reported seeing a small craft depart the vicinity after the explosion, which happened 30 nautical miles (56km) from the Kuwaiti port.
www.wafb.com
Federal report: Forgotten work lights triggered 2023 Dow Chemical blast in Plaquemine
A new report by the Chemical Safety Board outlines the cause of a 2023 explosion at the Dow Chemical plant in Plaquemine, finding the incident could have been prevented.
www.theguardian.com
Syngenta says it will stop making pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease
Company will halt production of controversial paraquat weed killer by end of June as it faces thousands of lawsuits
therealnews.com
A billion-dollar company poisoned their town, then moved on. Now people are dying.
“It doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you're coming from, nobody cared about us… we've been so let down and our trust is so broken. Everything's been taken from us.”
cen.acs.org
Iran war hits the chemical sector
Qatar shuts down plants as infrastructure comes under attack
www.argusmedia.com
Middle East conflict threatens UAE polymer export port
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is threatening a major polymer export hub, as debris from an aerial interception sparked a fire at one of the berths at the port of Jabel Ali in the UAE.
www.newarab.com
Tunisia court blocks closure of factory blamed for pollution
The facility in the city of Gabes emits sulphur gases, nitrogen and fluorine, according to an audit last July for the African Development Bank
www.somo.nl
Audited ≠ Ethical: how fashion brands mislead consumers
“No forced labour”, “a safe working environment”, and “fair pay”: these are promises clothing brands readily use in advertisements to reassure consumers seeking clean clothing. But what are these claims based on? A new analysis by SOMO, the Dutch consumers’ association Consumentenbond, and Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) shows that clothing brands regularly make overly general statements that are not always accurate.
globalwitness.org
Scale of resource-driven violence in Venezuela revealed
Our interactive map reveals how and where resource-driven violence affects Venezuelans, as enacted by corrupt and criminal actors tied to oil and mining sectors
www.ukrinform.net
Factory producing Iskander and Oreshnik missiles attacked at night in Udmurtia, Russia
On the night of February 21, a factory in the city of Votkinsk in the Russian Udmurt Republic, which produces Iskander and Oreshnik ballistic missiles, was attacked. — Ukrinform.
lt.news-pravda.com
The court seized the property of the company managing the fertilizer plant in Lithuania
The court seized the property of the company managing the fertilizer plant in LithuaniaAn Amsterdam court has seized 100% of the shares of EuroChem Group, which owns the Lifosa phosphorous fertilizer plant, at the request of the bankrupt granite...
www.cnn.com
Investigation finds ‘secretly’ added chemicals of unknown safety in US food supply
Over 100 chemicals of unknown safety were secretly added to foods and supplements without notifying the public or the FDA, a new investigation found.
www.abc.net.au
Satellite images show destruction at huge oil refinery, Iranian nuclear facility
Newly released satellite imagery shows the aftermath of an Iranian drone attack targeting one of the world's largest oil refineries.
discoveryalert.com.au
Kuwait Port Closure Disrupts Global Petrochemical Trade
Kuwait port closure disrupts global petrochemical trade flows, forcing costly rerouting and revealing vulnerabilities.
thelogicalindian.com
Over 21 Workers Killed As Massive Firecracker Unit Blast Rips Through Kakinada District In Andhra Pradesh
A massive explosion at an overcrowded firecracker unit in Kakinada has claimed 21 lives, prompting the suspension of four officials and exposing a deadly culture of safety violations in AP’s hazardous industries.
gulfnews.com
Saudi Arabia halts some operations at massive Ras Tanura refinery
Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery temporarily halts operations after a drone attack causes a limited fire. Authorities confirm no injuries and uninterrupted petroleum supply, emphasizing the strategic importance of this oil hub.
www.texastribune.org
Dow asks Texas to legalize plastic pollution from its plant
Facing multiple lawsuits, North America’s largest chemical manufacturer requests an “unprecedented” permit amendment to authorize its discharge of polyethylene pellets into coastal waters.
telanganatoday.com
Toxic gas leak in Palghar forces evacuation of 2,600 people
A hazardous oleum gas leak at a chemical unit in Palghar district led to the evacuation of over 2,600 people, including school students. Emergency teams rushed to the site, while three persons reported minor eye irritation
indiantelevision.com
India to protest Dow’s sponsorship of Olympics
MUMBAI: With the Dow Chemicals sponsorship of next year‘s London Olympics causing anger among Bhopal Gas tragedy victims, the Sports Ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to raise the issue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In a letter addressed to IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the Ministry has expressed concern about […]
www.detroitnews.com
Truckload of plastic pellets ends up in Michigan river after Jan. crash
A semitruck overturned on a west Michigan highway and spilled plastic \
earthworks.org
We Caught Shell Polluting in PA, again! Our Partner did, too. - Earthworks
Since opening in November 2022 the Shell Plastic Plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania has been wrought with malfunctions and violations. In the first year alone the facility wracked up over 25 malfunctions and thirteen notices of violations. This included chemical events and exceeding the pollution limits set by a number of air permits.
biz.liga.net
Court opens bankruptcy case against major Ukrainian petrochemical plant
Karpatnaftochim owes Ukreximbank more than a billion hryvnias
kyivindependent.com
Drone attack sparks fire at oil refinery in southern Russia, officials say
Flames engulfed one of the tanks at the Albashneft oil refinery in Novominskaya and burned an adjacent area of about 150 square meters, the Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters said.
novanews.co.za
Consumer Commission probes harmful chemicals in sanitary products
NCC investigates nine sanitary product suppliers after study found harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to serious health complications.
www.manufacturingdive.com
Executives raise alarm on US chemical regulations’ impact on manufacturing
Strict chemical regulations implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal departments are making the United States less competitive, executives said on a panel at the American Chemistry Council’s GlobalChem regulations conference.
lithub.com
All the Recycling in the World Won’t Save Us From the Greed of Big Plastic
In 2017, Saudi Aramco, in partnership with Dow Chemical, finished work on a $20 billion, twenty-​­six-​­plant petrochemical complex called Sadara. The largest such facility ever built in a single p…
publichealthwatch.org
Air Pollution, Lead May Drive Thousands of Alzheimer's Cases
Lead exposure is linked to almost three times the risk of Alzheimer’s … Millions on Medicare Advantage plans may lose coverage … ’Forever chemicals’ in umbilical cord blood … and more.
www.wbrz.com
Federal safety board issues report on 2023 Dow blast: Lights were left in a tank for almost 2 months
PLAQUEMINE — Federal regulators say portable work lights left inside a large drum are to blame for a series of explosions that rocked the Dow Chemical plant near Plaquemine in the summer of 2023.
www.eenews.net
Dow lapses blamed for Louisiana plant fires, chemical release
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board examined the 2023 incident that led to the release of cancer-causing ethylene oxide.
www.theguardian.com
Trump officials move to kill system that protects US from chemical disasters
EPA rolls back rules as chemical firms claim provisions in RMP protection system too expensive to implement
www.thecooldown.com
US officials spark backlash with troubling new industrial exemptions that could endanger public health: 'It's a pretty clear case'
Community members are worried about what coke oven pollution exemptions may mean for local air quality.
www.greenpeace.org
Greenpeace organizations to appeal US $345 million North Dakota court judgment in Energy Transfer’s intimidation lawsuit
Greenpeace organizations announced they will seek a new trial and, if necessary, appeal the decision with the North Dakota Supreme Court following a North Dakota District Court judgment today awarding Energy Transfer (ET) $345 million.
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
Air Alliance Houston says repeated unpermitted emissions events underscore ‘systemic failure’ by regulators
A new report by the local nonprofit details 1,735 emissions events in Harris County between 2017 and 2024 that were caused by explosions, severe weather and facility maintenance.
news.oilandgaswatch.org
Growing use of secrecy agreements between developers and local governments troubles advocates of open government
Developers and local governments across the U.S. that want to avoid public debates with local residents about controversial projects – from data centers to solar farms and petrochemical plants – in recent years have increasingly employed nondisclosure agreements as a tactic to keep things quiet and out of the press until deals are complete, according to observers of the industry. For example, when local elected officials in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, began negotiating to remove an historically Black community beside the Mississippi River for a 17,000-acre industrial complex, the officials signed what amount to gag orders promising to “protect the secrecy” of the project.
www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com
EPA to regulate chemical used for plastics, rubber after finding ‘unreasonable’ risk
The Environmental Protection Agency will develop risk management rulemaking for 1,3-butadiene.
gulfnews.com
Oil woes: Cuba's energy woes deepen as fuel supplies dwindle
Cuba's energy woes deepen as fuel supplies dwindle
www.earth.com
Tiny fiberglass fragments are building up in coastal estuaries
Tiny fiberglass fragments are accumulating in estuary sediments, prompting calls for stronger controls on boat repairs and marine runoff.
www.theguardian.com
Judge orders Greenpeace to pay $345m over Dakota Access pipeline protest
Group says case far from over after being found liable for defamation and other claims brought by energy firm
www.bnnbloomberg.ca
After years of legal wrangling, Enbridge begins rerouting pipeline around Wisconsin reservation
Energy company Enbridge has finally started work on rerouting an aging oil pipeline around a tribal reservation in northern Wisconsin.
resource-recycling.com
Battery fire risk isn’t going away. Insurance is responding
Battery fires have moved from an occasional operational hazard to a defining insurance issue for recycling and waste facilities. As
www.ky3.com
Lithium-ion battery fires pose growing threat to homes
A Michigan family experienced every homeowner’s nightmare twice in two weeks when lithium-ion batteries in their home caught fire.
www.kgou.org
Drummond praises EPA proposal to roll back Biden-era rule on industrial chemical accident prevention
On Feb. 13, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal to reduce regulations on facilities that use hazardous substances.
euromaidanpress.com
The plant makes ammonia and ammonium nitrate. The Russian army turns them into TNT and RDX. Ukraine just set it on fire — again
Dorogobuzh chemical plant in Smolensk Oblast was hit overnight on 25 February, the second strike in three months on a facility directly feeding Russia's munitions chain.
ricochet.media
Tar sands oil through DAPL: Oil giants trying to tie Canada’s future to Trump’s fossil empire
Analysis of the ambitious plan to transport Alberta tar sands oil through DAPL and its connection to the fossil fuel agenda in Canada.
www.recyclingtoday.com
LyondellBasell scales back recycling target
The chemical and polymers firm has reduced a prior target of producing 2 million metric tons of recycled-content plastic per year to 800,000 tons.
www.exxonknews.org
The top cops working to shield Big Oil from the law
Oil-funded attorneys general are making progress in their attempts to quash climate lawsuits.
thedailyoverview.com
Shell blasted for broken promises as it races to ditch Pennsylvania
Shell is actively exploring the sale of its chemicals assets in the United States and Europe, a move that threatens to leave Pennsylvania’s Beaver County holding the bag after years of environmental violations, broken economic promises, and a regulatory record littered with malfunction reports. The oil giant’s potential exit raises hard questions about what happens...
investigatemidwest.org
Pesticide use and cancer risk rise together across America’s heartland
Increasingly, pesticides are being blamed for rising cancer rates across America’s agricultural communities.  Hardin County, home to around 800 farms, has a pesticide use rate more than four times the national average and a cancer rate among the highest in the state.  Most of the 500 counties with the highest pesticide use per square mile […]
www.stlpr.org
Lawyers wrangle over Syngenta settlement while families wait for justice
“It’s a shitty settlement," whispered one attorney in the courtroom. "Spread that far and wide in case I get gagged.”
island.lk
X-Press Pearl disaster fuels global call to classify plastic pellets as hazardous
Nearly five years after the catastrophic sinking of the X-Press Pearl, off Sri Lanka’s western coast, the environmental scars remain visible — from contaminated beaches to disrupted fisheries. Now, that tragedy has become a rallying point for an international coalition of scientists, demanding urgent reforms to global maritime law. A group of leading researchers and […]
resource-recycling.com
Evergreen closing RPET plants in Ohio, New York
Recycled PET company Evergreen Recycling is closing its operations in Clyde, Ohio, and Albany, New York, laying off 165 people. 
www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com
Chemical Safety Board renews call for OSHA standard on combustible dust
The video explores what caused a fatal May 2017 explosion and fire at the Didion Milling dry corn mill in Cambria, WI.
pestakeholder.org
Private equity firms vying for Russian oil and gas assets
Major U.S. private equity firms are jockeying to pick up Russian oil major Lukoil’s overseas fossil fuel assets. Under pressure to sell due to Western sanctions, The Carlyle Group has reached a…
experience.arcgis.com
Map of RMP Facilities with Two or More Incidents Since 2020
This map shows facilities regulated by the Risk Management Program (RMP) under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) and where multiple chemical incidents (such as chemical leaks, fires, explosions) have occurred in the last 5 years. Each point represents a location where more than one event was reported. (Coming Clean)
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
Report finds 2024 fatal Deer Park hydrogen sulfide release caused by labeling, protocol issues
The leading cause of the incident was a lack of proper identification of the piping, the board found. While the refinery provided drawings and lists of the flanges, they were not sufficient to help workers tell the difference between “nearly identical segments,” according to a news release from the board.
ukranews.com
Kaleykino oil pumping station in Tatarstan on fire after attack
On the night of February 23, a fire broke out at the Kaleykino oil pumping station in Tatarstan, Russia, one of the key hubs of the Druzhba oil export pipeline. The incident was reported by monitoring Telegram channels and russian media. In the morning, regional authorities confirmed the attack on the industrial facility. According to the official version, the "local fire" was caused by the fall of the drone debris.
www.eurekalert.org
Polystyrene nanoparticles can increase fish embryo early mortality especially in a stressful environment
A new study by an aquatic ecology group at the University of Eastern Finland investigated how these tiny plastic particles and their surface charge affect fish reproductive traits, indicating that negative effects may be pronounced under stressful conditions.
comingcleaninc.org
Trump’s EPA proposes gutting chemical disaster protections, threatening community health and safety
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed weaker regulations for the nation’s most hazardous...
www.timesonline.com
Shell's $14B PA plant struggles, seeks buyer amid job, profit concerns
Shell's Beaver County plant, built with a $14B investment and state tax credits, is struggling to deliver, prompting the company to seek a buyer.
www.recyclingtoday.com
BIR reports note continued struggles for recycled resin market
In the U.S. and beyond, low-cost virgin resin continues to weaken demand for recycled material.
hntrbrk.com
Toxic Smoke and Mirrors: How a Petrochemical Giant Broke Its Promise
Documents obtained by Hunterbrook show Indorama exposed thousands to carcinogens, violated environmental permits, and concealed toxic leaks from regulators.
www.hoosieragtoday.com
National FFA Organization Vows Full Cooperation with Congressional Probe into Syngenta Sponsorship
The National FFA Organization says that it will cooperate with a congressional inquiry reviewing one of its corporate sponsors, while reaffirming its commitment to remaining nonpartisan and free from donor influence. The youth agricultural education organization issued
www.hometownstations.com
Lima Refinery penalized $19 Million for violation of the Clean Air Act
The Lima Refinery paid $19 million in penalties in 2025 to the federal government for violations to the Clean Air Act. The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio says the monetary penalties stem from a lawsuit settlement filed against the refinery in 2024. According to the lawsuit, the Lima facility violated emission regulations involving the chemical Benzene and other hazardous air pollutants.
www.ans.org
NRC board to hear challenges to Dow’s Long Mott application
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) will hear arguments on February 26 on challenges to a construction permit application from Long Mott Energy (LME) for a multiunit reactor facility at Dow Chemical Company’s Seadrift site in Calhoun, Texas. LME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow.
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
Texas alleges ‘habitual non-compliance’ of wastewater rules at Dow Chemical complex
But the lawsuit, filed last Friday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, could shield the petrochemical giant from harsher litigation from a local citizen group.
publichealthwatch.org
Do you live near a refinery that uses hydrogen fluoride?
Use PHW's interactive map to learn about the 40 refineries that use the potentially lethal chemical, their accident histories and worst-case scenarios.
www.earth.com
US officials dumped thousands of barrels of toxic waste into the ocean, and now they are leaking
The US dumped thousands of barrels into the Pacific; current chemical leaks are affecting deep-sea habitats.
www.nytimes.com
MAHA Moms Turn Against Trump: ‘Women Feel Like They Were Lied To’
President Trump’s executive order aimed at spurring production of a pesticide has infuriated leaders of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA movement.
www.cnbc.com
Kennedy defends Trump glyphosate order; MAHA erupts as midterms approach
President Donald Trump on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act to spur the domestic production of glyphosate and elemental phosphorus.
apnews.com
Following Trump's lead, some GOP states seek to limit environmental regulations
Some Republican legislators are pushing to limit state environmental regulations. Alabama lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday limiting state agencies from adopting pollution rules stricter than federal standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
www.cbsnews.com
Bay Area refinery to pay $10 million penalty for multiple health, safety violations
A Contra Costa County refinery will pay a multi-million-dollar penalty for a series of major violations, including fires, illegal emissions, and leaking tanks.
hazmatmag.com
Detailed Analysis of 13 Major U.S. Chemical Incidents: Lessons for Hazmat Managers
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) recently released Volume 4 of its Incident Reports. The reports in the Volume detail 13 major chemical incidents that occurred across seven states — California, Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
storymaps.arcgis.com
Dirty Air, Dirty Deeds
This interactive map shows 546 industrial sites across the United States and Puerto Rico that have been deemed eligible for exemptions from their Clean Air Act requirements. (Union of Concerned Scientists)
www.edf.org
EPA Pollution Pass Map 2025
A map of 500+ industrial facilities in the United States showing whether they've requested or been granted an EPA pollution exemption, who lives nearby, and more.
industriouslabs.org
Industrial Equity Mapper
Stories of Industrial Pollution in the U.S.
www.dw.com
Banana farm pesticides back in focus after sterility ruling
A French court has rejected a compensation claim against US multinationals by Nicaraguan farm workers poisoned by the pesticide Nemagon. Farmers worldwide still rely on noxious chemicals, often exported from the EU.
hntrbrk.com
Poisoned USA: Hastings, NE
A Nebraska county has among the highest rates of cancer in America. The community is asking: Why are we so sick?
earthjustice.org
Health and Safety Protections Against Chemical Emergencies Eliminated and Weakened in New Trump EPA Proposal
The agency is proposing to dismantle safeguards that were designed to protect public health, workers and the environment
www.kilkennypeople.ie
Concerns raised over Kilkenny property owner's military ties in Germany
Owner of Castletown Cox Estate in County Kilkenny, Kelcy Warren, has reportedly acquired a stake in pipelines which transfer fuel to German military bases
www.earth.com
CFC pollutant substitutes have released 335,500 tons of another 'forever chemical' into the atmosphere
CFC substitutes release 335,500 tons of an eternal chemical called TFA that already contaminates rain, ice, and global water.
euobserver.com
Behind the chemical industry lobby blitz to undermine EU safety
The European Environment Agency warns “according to some estimates, about eight percent of deaths can be attributed to hazardous chemicals. These numbers could be [an] underestimate." That’s why the EU chemicals REACH policy needs urgent reform.
www.fob.at
Putin’s Fertilizer Oligarch Fools Justice
How a sanctioned Russian oligarch outmaneuvers the Austrian judiciary.
arenaholdings-timeslive-prod.web.arc-cdn.net
Sasol accused of unfair practices by US residents
Mossville community affected by expansion of facility calls SA company to negotiate terms for relocation
www.business-humanrights.org
UN report highlights role of corporate actors in Israel's occupation and unfolding genocide
In June 2025, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) Francesca Albanese published a report highlighting the role of private entities in Israel's occupation and unfolding genocide in Gaza.
www.eenews.net
EPA targets Biden-era chemical accident prevention regs
A newly released proposal extends a regulatory tug-of-war that now spans almost a decade.
news.futunn.com
Following a series of accidents, the pesticide association calls for self-discipline. Is the chlorantraniliprole industry facing a reshuffle?
①Recently, Shanxi Jiapeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. experienced a sudden explosion, resulting in eight fatalities. This marks the third serious explosion accident involving manufacturers of chlorantraniliprole raw materials within nine months, prompting speculation within the industry about stricter regulatory oversight of the supply chain; ② Amid shrinking production capacity, the chlorantraniliprole supply chain is expected to experience a wave of price increases.
www.kyivpost.com
Major Lukoil Refinery in Volgograd Catches Fire as 108 Drone Barrage Strikes Russia
A drone attack sparked a fire at Lukoil’s Volgograd refinery overnight, OSINT analysts say, marking at least the ninth strike on the facility since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
www.globalbankingandfinance.com
La Mede Refinery Workers Seek Justice for Benzene Exposure
PARIS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - More than 180 workers and subcontractors at French oil major TotalEnergies' La Mede refinery, near Marseille, will file...
web.archive.org
A sprawling chemical plant in Louisiana is facing scrutiny from regulators. Here's why.
The Union Carbide plant produces chemicals for thousands of consumer products, from insecticides and antifreeze to plastics, pharmaceuticals and toothpaste.
www.politico.eu
European chemical giants plot to weaken EU’s flagship climate policy
The ultra-polluting sector says the EU’s carbon price is putting it out of business.
www.thechemicalengineer.com
Syngenta fined £400,000 for dangerous steam release at UK plant
GLOBAL pesticides manufacturer Syngenta has been fined £400,000 (US$547,000) after pleading guilty to two health and safety offences following a dangerous steam release at its Huddersfield site in 2023.
web.archive.org
A proposal to build a massive plastics plant in Louisiana faces a new court challenge
Environmental groups are back in court, challenging a state decision to extend an air permit for Formosa Plastics’ proposed St. James Parish complex.
www.straitstimes.com
Seven killed in gold mine accident in eastern China, state media CCTV reports
Seven people were killed in a gold mine accident in China’s eastern Shandong province. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
nationaltoday.com
Torrance Residents Demand Ban on 'Flesh-Eating' Refinery Chemical - Los Angeles Today
Residents and advocates in Torrance, California gathered to call for a ban on the use of modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF), a chemical used at a local oil refinery that they say has the potential to cause mass casualties in the event of an accident or release. The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance hosted the event, which marked the 11th anniversary of a 2015 explosion at the refinery that nearly caused a release of the dangerous chemical.
www.eenews.net
Bill targets oil refineries’ use of ‘exceptionally hazardous chemical’
Rep. Maxine Waters' bill comes as EPA is considering ending a mandate for refiners to study whether there are safer alternatives.
english.vov.vn
Doosan Vina exports nearly 2,000 tonnes of modules to US
The Doosan Enerbility Vietnam (Doosan Vina) specialising in heavy industries announced on March 26 that it has just exported a batch of nine modules weighing nearly 2,000 tonnes to the Golden Triangle Polymers company in Texas, the US.