The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to loosen requirements for sterilizer plants that emit a gas known as ethylene oxide.
The EPA says ethylene oxide can cause lymphoma, myeloma and lymphocytic leukemia, as well as breast cancer in women. In 2022, it identified elevated cancer risks in nearly two dozen communities located near plants that release this toxic gas.
In 2024, the Biden administration sought to cut down on sterilizer emissions by 90 percent.
Now, the Trump administration is wiping out about a third of the emissions reductions that would have occurred under the Biden rules.
The Biden-era regulation would have been expected to cut about 21 tons per year of ethylene oxide, while the Trump proposal would undo 7.8 tons per year of those reductions.
In a statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the move was being made to prevent disruptions to the medical device supply chain, in which the chemical is used.
“The Trump EPA is committed to ensuring life-saving medical devices remain available for the critical care of America’s children, elderly, and all patients without unnecessary exposure to communities,” Zeldin said.
Read more at TheHill.com.
