Ethylene oxide has been in the news lately. But what exactly is it? And should members of the public be worried? The federal government has not done a good job of releasing helpful information to the public, so we feel the need to step into the gap. On July 19, 2019, WebMD published an article on ethylene oxide and cancer,...
Continue ReadingEthylene oxide (EtO) is used as a sterilizing agent in various industries and processes, including in the sterilization of medical equipment. Some manufacturers also use it to make ethylene glycol, which is in antifreeze and polyester. Workers at certain plants that produce EtO are at risk of exposure which can result in harmful side effects. If you or someone...
Continue ReadingMost people assume that the neighborhoods that they live in are relatively safe and that when it comes to things out of their control–like dangerous products, pollution, or cancer-causing chemicals in the air that can cause personal injury or wrongful death–the government will intervene to protect them. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Indeed, despite the fact that the United...
Continue ReadingA new comment from the EPA Office of Inspector General dated March 31, 2020 calls on the EPA to better inform the affected communities of the dangers of ethylene oxide (“EtO”). A memorandum contained in the released comment is titled, “Management Alert: Prompt Action Needed to Inform Residents Living Near Ethylene Oxide-Emitting Facilities About Health Concerns and Actions to...
Continue ReadingWith the ethylene oxide facility (EtO) in Willowbrook, Illinois closed permanently, and the facility in Smyrna, Georgia closed indefinitely, more attention should be placed on facilities that remain open and operational, such as the one in Covington, Georgia, that continues to use EtO. Several troubling facts make it hard to justify the use of EtO when the threat to nearby...
Continue ReadingEnvironmental protection laws place restrictions on how individuals or companies can interact with the environment. This includes limitations on the disposal of chemicals or hazardous products, and regulations on interactions with soil, water, or air. Environmental protection laws promote the public safety, but they also can do a lot more than that. Environmental law has a long history, but...
Continue ReadingU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a 10 year study on ethylene oxide or EtO from 2007 until 2016. EPA determined EtO was more dangerous than it previously had in regulations, and moved the chemical to the known carcinogens list, the list of chemicals that definitely cause cancer. 2018, EPA used that information with others in the National Air...
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