Pre Proposal: Outreach to Communities on Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers Fact Sheet
Action
- On August 3, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated outreach to communities affected by emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO) from commercial sterilizers.
- EtO is a colorless gas, that is used at commercial sterilizers to sterilize devices that cannot be sterilized using steam or radiation, such as some medical and dental equipment. According to the Food and Drug Administration, approximately 50 percent of sterile medical devices are treated with EtO – about 20 billion devices each year. EtO is also used to sterilize some food products such as spices, certain dried herbs, dried vegetables, sesame seeds and walnuts.
- High concentrations of EtO have been found in the air near some commercial sterilizers. Inhalation of EtO at these levels, over many years, can increase the lifetime risk of getting cancer. However, based on current modeling, EPA does not expect EtO levels in the outdoor air around facilities that release it to be high enough to cause immediate non-cancer health effects.
- EPA reached out to state and local governments, communities facing the highest risks, other interested parties, and industry to share information and hear input on protecting health and reducing toxic emissions from these facilities. EPA shared this information because communities have a right to know about emissions that could affect their health and well-being and the agency wanted to provide communities with the opportunity to provide input on the rulemaking.
- EPA is committed to using science, data, and evidence to drive the EPA decision-making processes on environmental health risks, including reducing risks from EtO emitted into the air. Engaging with communities, states, Tribes, and stakeholders to reduce the risks posed by air emissions of this chemical remains a high priority for EPA.
- Learn more about EPA's overall action plan to address risks from EtO.