La Porte chemical fire and massive sulfuric acid leak at the Houston Ship Channel during December of 2025 underscore the need for robust safety regulations
Houston, TX — A newly released report from Air Alliance Houston (AAH) documents a disturbing and persistent trend of industrial pollution events in Harris County, with 1,735 emission events reported between 2017 and 2024, resulting in the release of over 49 million pounds of air pollution into the air we breathe.
Titled “Emission Events in Harris County: 2017–2024”, the report provides the most comprehensive review to date of unpermitted industrial emissions in the region, including fires, chemical leaks, explosions, and equipment failures. Among its findings:
- Just five incidents were responsible for more than half of all pollution from emission events over the last eight years.
- Twelve repeat-offender facilities accounted for over 88% of total emissions, underscoring a systemic failure of enforcement.
- More than 6,300 permit violations were reported, with ExxonMobil’s Baytown refinery leading all facilities with 948 violations.
- Pollutants included known carcinogens such as benzene and 1,3-butadiene, released at levels exceeding permitted limits.
A plume of smoke rises from a petrochemical fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company, in Deer Park, Texas on March 18, 2019. David J. Phillip / AP
“These aren’t isolated incidents; they are part of a consistent pattern that puts public health at risk,” said Dr. Inyang Uwak, Research and Policy Director at Air Alliance Houston. “This report makes it clear: a handful of facilities in Harris County are responsible for ongoing pollution and are not following the rules of most permitted facilities that are not experiencing uncontrolled emission events.” She added, “when incidents do occur, it’s often not a matter of chance but a failure to prioritize prevention.”
The urgency of the report’s findings is underscored by recent industrial accidents, including a fire at the Oxy Vinyls facility in La Porte and a massive sulfuric acid spill at the Houston Ship Channel, both of which triggered emergency responses and raised serious concerns about ongoing safety risks at industrial sites near communities and critical waterways.
“In light of these findings and recent disasters, the EPA’s Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention Rule is more critical than ever,” said Jennifer Hadayia, Executive Director of Air Alliance Houston. “This new rule raises the bar for accident prevention and ensures that communities have better access to information and emergency alerts — it must not be rolled back by this Administration.”
Media Contact: Brenda Franco, Communications Director | [email protected] // 832.755.6220
About Air Alliance Houston
Air Alliance Houston is a non-profit organization working to reduce the public health impacts of air pollution and advance environmental justice through applied research, education, and advocacy. For more information and resources, please visit www.airalliancehouston.org.
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