FORT MYERS, Fla. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reaching out to residents in areas near commercial sterilizers that release high levels of the chemical ethylene oxide (EtO) into the air.
One area of concern is the American Contract Systems (ACS) in Fort Myers located at 11600 Adelmo Lane.
EtO is a colorless, odorless gas that is primarily used for sterilization purposes.
The EPA has regulated EtO emissions for 30 years, however, in 2016, new scientific information revealed that EtO is more toxic than previously understood.
This prompted the EPA to conduct nationwide analyses.
The data conducted by EPA revealed that certain communities near commercial sterilizers could have elevated cancer risks due to lifetime exposures to EtO.
The EPA says inhalation of EtO at elevated levels over a lifetime can increase a person’s risk of getting cancer. However, single-day exposures to the concentrations found in residential communities normally do not pose an immediate threat to an individual’s health.
The EPA has determined that Fort Myers neighborhoods in the vicinity of ACS may have an elevated lifetime cancer risk.
The EPAissued a new set of protection measures to limit EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers and is seeking input from the public
The Agency is working with American Contract Systems and other commercial sterilizers across the country to find ways they can voluntarily implement early emission controls to reduce risk.
The first proposal is to strengthen emission standards for the 86 commercial sterilizers that are currently operating across the country as well as for new sterilizers. If finalized, this will reduce the amount of EtO emitted from commercial sterilizers by 80 percent and will reduce risk in nearby communities.
The second proposal is a broad set of new protections under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) that will reduce the risk for all workers who use EtO to sterilize things and for others who work, live, or go to school near sterilization facilities.
To learn more about the proposed rules and how to comment, please visit www.epa.gov/eto.
ACS gave the following statement:
American Contract Systems (ACS) is committed to providing critical medical equipment sterilization services that hospitals and health systems rely on to help protect their patients and prevent infections during surgeries and medical treatments.
ACS takes every possible precaution, including regular external air monitoring and periodic internal air monitoring, to ensure the continued safety of our teammates and the community where we live and work. ACS is fully compliant with all currently applicable environmental regulations, and our proprietary process uses minimal amounts of ethylene oxide (EtO). Additionally, more than a year ago we voluntarily initiated the installation of advanced air cleaning technology at our Fort Myers facility that will further reduce our already low EtO air emissions by over 99.9 percent. We are in the final stages of completing installation at our facility, and these controls will be fully operational in approximately three weeks.
The safety of our teammates and the community is our highest priority, and we have proactively gone beyond regulatory requirements because as members of the Fort Myers community, we understand and share your concerns. ACS continues to work closely with state and local environmental officials and fully supports their efforts to protect our environment. We look forward to the opportunity to further demonstrate our responsibility as members of the Fort Myers business community.
The EPA says if you have health-related concerns, please contact your local health department.
The EPA is saying the risk gradually increases as you get closer to the American Contract Systems facility.
The EPA will host virtual community meetings on Thursday to provide residents and workers an opportunity to learn more about EtO and how to submit comments on the recently proposed rule and decision.
The community can participate via Zoom.
A recording of the meeting will be available at www.epa.gov/fl/fort-myers-fl-americancontract-systems-fort-myers-facility.
