This week, EPA issued final rules to reduce emissions of ethylene oxide gas emission from industrial disinfection operations. Ethylene oxide is a commonly used gas to sterilize medical equipment, but exposure to the gas has been linked to cancer.
The rule applies to nearly 100 commercial facilities that use ethylene oxide, primarily in sterilizing medical equipment. When fully implemented, the rule will reduce emissions of ethylene oxide by 90 percent. Based on comments from medical sterilization companies and concerns about how the rule might affect the supply chain of medical equipment, EPA extended the time companies have to come in compliance with the required emissions reductions.