A German chemical manufacturer is planning a new facility in Texas that would produce a raw ingredient used in in plexiglass and other materials.

On Aug. 9, 2024, Roehm America filed for an initial operating permit for its proposed Bay City MMA Plant in Matagorda County, Texas, about an hour and a half southwest of Houston. The facility could produce up to 250,000 tons of methyl methacrylate (MMA) per year– a petrochemical used to manufacture plastic screens, pesticides, industrial solvents, polyesters, and other products.

The plant would be capable of producing up to nearly 290 tons per year of carbon monoxide, which can cause headaches and dizziness, among other health issues. It could also annually produce up to 136 tons per year each of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and volatile organic chemicals, tied to longterm respiratory and heart issues.

The plant would be capable of producing up to nearly 290 tons per year of carbon monoxide, which can cause headaches and dizziness, among other health issues. It could also annually produce up to 136 tons per year each of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and volatile organic chemicals, tied to longterm respiratory and heart issues.

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