EPA Announces Rule to Slash Cancer-Causing Emissions from Sterilization Plants

The new regulation targets a 90% reduction in ethylene oxide emissions, addressing health risks in communities near these facilities.

The EPA has issued a new rule to significantly reduce ethylene oxide emissions from sterilization facilities, aiming to cut about 90% of emissions nationwide.
The rule mandates the installation of pollution-control equipment and continuous emissions monitoring, with facilities required to report to the EPA quarterly.
The move addresses long-standing health concerns in communities near these facilities, particularly in areas like Laredo, Texas, where residents have faced elevated cancer rates.
Industry representatives express concerns about potential impacts on the supply of sterilized medical equipment, but the EPA assures that the new regulations will not affect access.
The regulations, which go into effect shortly after publication in the Federal Register, give facilities two years to comply, with an additional 180 days to demonstrate compliance.