A History of the EPA’s Findings on Ethylene Oxide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently implemented rules to ensure that Americans are not exposed to the compound ethylene oxide (EtO). The reason why EPA established this rule is because it has been found that ethylene oxide can increase your chances of being diagnosed with cancer.

The Agency’s goals are to reduce how much ethylene oxide is released into the air and decrease the chances of people being exposed to this cancer-causing chemical. If you have suffered injuries due to exposure to ethylene oxide, talk to an ethylene oxide poisoning lawyer in Memphis today about your case.

What is ethylene oxide?

According to the EPA, ethylene oxide is “a colorless gas used to make other chemicals that are used in making a range of products, including antifreeze, textiles, plastics, detergents and adhesives.” Ethylene oxide can also be used to properly sterilize certain products that steam cannot sterilize. For example, one of the most popular items that is sterilized by ethylene oxide is medical tools.

What does ethylene oxide do to the human body?

Humans are usually exposed to ethylene oxide if they work in or live, work, or go to school near a plant that uses this type of chemical. It is not something that is typically found in food or beverages. If a person is exposed to ethylene oxide, there are short-term and long-term effects that may occur, such as:

Short-term effects:

• Eye irritation
• Irritation of mucous membranes
• Central nervous system depression

Long-term effects:

• Lung complications
• Throat issues
• Eye irritation
• Skin problems
• Nose issues
• Nervous system troubles
• Brain damage
• Reproductive problems
• Cancer

The EPA’s history of researching ethylene oxide

The EPA has been studying and evaluating ethylene oxide for decades. Here are some of the dates that the EPA updated the public and provided their findings regarding this toxic chemical:

• June 1985: The EPA released their Health Assessment document, which gave a brief overview of ethylene oxide. Even though the information is obviously outdated, it goes over how you can determine whether you have been exposed to ethylene oxide. For example, the document mentions that you may be exposed if it was used in tobacco products, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and other items. However, it does state that the chemical has “not been studied extensively,” but limited research shows that it is absorbed through the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract. It also mentioned that some of the symptoms that humans experienced from ethylene oxide were “headaches, vomiting, dyspnea, and diarrhea,” but other effects were “not well documented.” At the end of the document, it explains that research conducted on animals indicated a strong risk of cancer due to inhaling ethylene oxide for long periods of time.
• September 2006: EPA published a draft on the evaluation of ethylene oxide. The goal of this document was to receive comments from the public within 30 days. After the 30-day period, they would review the public comments and hold a meeting at the end of 2006. When this draft was released, the Agency was considering potentially declaring ethylene oxide as a “carcinogenic health hazard.”
• January 2007: A public peer review meeting was held. At this meeting, ethylene oxide was discussed by the Science Advisory Board.
• December 2007: EPA released a final report on their review of the draft assessment from the public comments provided the previous year.
• July 2011: EPA started the Final Agency process, as well as an Interagency Science Discussion, about an updated and revised assessment about ethylene oxide.
• June 2012: EPA further evaluated the findings of the Agency’s revised assessment and investigation regarding ethylene oxide.
• July 2013: EPA made revisions to the draft assessment. Then, the Agency released their draft in hopes of gaining public review and comment on the topic. They wanted more information and comments from the public about the “human health hazard and dose-response assessment of ethylene oxide.” The notice of the Carcinogenicity Assessment for Ethylene Oxide was also released.
• December 2013: EPA held their bimonthly public meeting. One of the topics discussed at this meeting was ethylene oxide and the draft assessment that asked for public comment. This meeting served as an opportunity for anyone to give their opinion or discuss anything related to ethylene oxide or the draft assessment regarding ethylene oxide.
• August 2014: After making edits and revisions based on public comments, EPA sent their draft assessment to the Science Advisory Board. The objective of doing this was to request a meeting and receive external peer review on ethylene oxide.
• November 2014: EPA hosted the meeting for the SAB Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee, where they discussed and reviewed the findings of ethylene oxide.
• August 2015: The Science Advisory Board at EPA released a final report on the assessment of ethylene oxide.
• October 2016: EPA revised and submitted its draft for final evaluation and discussion.
• December 2016: EPA published its final evaluation of ethylene oxide to the IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System) database. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, this final evaluation determined that ethylene oxide “was linked to an unacceptably high risk of cancer, especially for people facing chronic exposure.” Since this assessment was released in 2016, many businesses and organizations have been trying to push the EPA to “reject their own internal assessment.” However, a chemical expert for EPA, Jennifer Jinot, explained that “this assessment was the product of a rigorous development and review process, and no new data or analyses have been presented that would alter EPA’s major findings.”
• April 2023: EPA proposed certain protections for workers who use ethylene oxide to sterilize items or live, work, or attend school close to sterilization facilities. These protections were granted under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
• March 2024: EPA officially announced a rule to reduce cancer risks for individuals residing near commercial sterilization facilities that use this chemical. This rule was one of the strongest measures the EPA has ever taken regarding ethylene oxide.
• April 2024: EPA announced a final set of rules to “significantly reduce emissions of toxic air pollution from chemical plants,” which included ethylene oxide. These rules are expected to drastically reduce cancer risks in people who live near plants that use these types of chemicals.

Did the EPA hide or fail to alert the public about ethylene oxide?

An article by Chemical & Engineering News pointed out that the EPA was sued in 2023, claiming the Agency failed to alert the public and update their rules regarding ethylene oxide for several years, which left many people uninformed of the risks that this chemical can cause. In 2016, the EPA declared that ethylene oxide was a carcinogen (a substance that can cause cancer) but did not update or create new rules and standards for manufacturing companies since 2014.

The article also explains that the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to review and create new rules every eight years. Therefore, these rules should have been updated sometime in 2022. As a result, many people were unknowingly exposed to very high levels of ethylene oxide and will most likely suffer the consequences for many years to come. After lawsuits and news reports brought attention to this, the EPA finally began reevaluating its rules in 2023 to reduce the risks of toxic chemicals on certain communities. They also released maps that gave people an idea about certain areas with high risks. To see the risk map for Memphis, click here.

What you can do if you believe you have been exposed to ethylene oxide in Memphis, TN

If you believe that you have been exposed to ethylene oxide, you should first visit your primary care doctor. They will conduct a physical examination and order specific tests to find out if you have been exposed to this chemical. After you have received medical attention and begun getting treatment, you should reach out to a Memphis ethylene oxide poisoning attorney right away. We have the knowledge and skills needed to handle these types of cases, and we will do all we can to ensure that you get the justice you deserve in a timely manner.

The Memphis personal injury lawyers at Bailey & Greer have almost four decades of experience assisting clients with various injuries and illnesses. Therefore, if you have been exposed to ethylene oxide which has caused your medical conditions or illnesses, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our legal team at your earliest opportunity. We stand up and fight for our clients’ rights, and we will gladly do the same for you and your family. Call our office or complete our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation case review today. We have offices in Memphis, Little Rock, and Jackson for your convenience.