One year ago, UCS published a report on ethylene oxide (EtO), a colorless toxic gas that is emitted by chemical manufacturing and medical device sterilization facilities. We found that medical device sterilization facilities, known as “commercial sterilizers,” are scattered throughout residential communities nationwide, within five miles of nearly 13 million people in the United States and Puerto Rico. There are also more than 10,000 schools and childcare centers in these areas. (Check out our interactive map to see if there’s a commercial sterilizer in your community.) Breathing ethylene oxide in the air over a long period of time is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer, especially white blood cell and breast cancers. Workers at these facilities and children who are exposed are especially at risk.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)…
Read the full article originally published at blog.ucsusa.org.