Environmental Justice Tracker

EJ Tracker Update

EPA Reaffirmed a Stricter Cancer Risk Value for Ethylene Oxide

Last updated:

December 21, 2022

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Final Rule

EPA published a final rule reaffirming a stricter 2016 cancer risk value for ethylene oxide (EtO) for the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing (MON) sector, including sterilizers. In doing so, EPA rejected a weaker alternative value put forward by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Adopting the stricter value for EtO enabled EPA to impose more stringent regulations on certain industrial sources of EtO, thereby reducing emissions released into frontline communities.