EPA identifies 23 sterilizers that exceed EtO risk levels

EPA has identified 23 commercial sterilization plants where emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO), the carcinogenic chemical seen as critical to the sterilization process, exceed the agency’s 100-in-a-million unacceptable risk rate and where the agency will work to curb emissions before it issues new air toxics rules for the facilities. “EPA analysis indicates that the air near facilities does not exceed short-term health benchmarks. However, the concern is that a lifetime of exposure to EtO emissions could lead to long-term health...