New EPA Rule to Slash Cancer-Causing Emissions From Sterilization Facilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a new rule to reduce toxic emissions from commercial sterilization facilities that release cancer-causing ethylene oxide. The rule will place stricter limits on the amount of ethylene oxide that can be released into the air, eventually eliminating about 90% of emissions nationwide. An analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that these emissions disproportionately affect poor and minority communities. The new rule requires facilities to install pollution-control equipment, conduct continuous emissions monitoring, and file quarterly reports to the EPA. The Biden administration has prioritized reducing cancer in communities exposed to toxic air pollution. A 2021 investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune revealed the EPA's failure to inform communities, such as Laredo, Texas, of the risks they faced from ethylene oxide. The new rule has been welcomed by community members and environmental organizations, although some industry groups have expressed concerns about potential delays in medical treatment. The EPA has assured the medical industry that access to sterilized medical equipment will not be impacted. The new rule will evaluate compliance based on the allowable amount of emissions listed in state permits. While the EPA's new rules are seen as a positive step, some critics are disappointed that commercial sterilization facilities are not required to obtain Title V permits, which would involve federal regulators in the permit approval process. The rules will go into effect shortly after being published in the Federal Register, and facilities will have two years to install monitoring and pollution controls. The [Extracted from the article]