A fleet of new plastics plants in the U.S. often release illegal levels of air pollution, even while receiving big tax breaks from state and local governments, the report found.

Emergency responders were called to help around 3 p.m. on Friday at the Shell facility in Deer Park, a Houston suburb. A Deer Park official said that there was no shelter-in-place order.

Major energy companies have reported a surge in profits in the first three months of the year as oil prices have rallied.

Companies ranging from General Motors to UPS are exiting or reducing their operations in Russia as wide-ranging sanctions make it all but impossible to operate in the country.

"Finally, there is some justice for the Nigerian people suffering the consequences of Shell's oil," said Eric Dooh, one of the Nigerian farmers who sued Shell.