EPA Proposes Weakening Pollution Limits on Chemical Used to Sterilize Medical Equipment

The move would reverse a Biden-era finding of high cancer risks at facilities using ethylene oxide.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:33pm

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The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed weakening air pollution limits on ethylene oxide, a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment like catheters and syringes. The EPA says the current standards 'actively threaten' manufacturers' ability to sterilize equipment and 'jeopardize one of America's only options for a secure domestic supply chain of essential medical equipment.' However, environmental and health advocates argue that long-term exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of cancer, especially in minority communities where many sterilization facilities are located.

Why it matters

Ethylene oxide plays a crucial role in sterilizing lifesaving medical devices, but long-term exposure has been linked to increased cancer risks for workers and nearby residents. The proposed rule change highlights the tension between public health concerns and maintaining a stable domestic supply of sterilized medical equipment.

The details

The EPA's proposed rule would weaken air pollution limits on ethylene oxide that were put in place by the Biden administration in 2024. That rule aimed to reduce ethylene oxide emissions by about 90% at nearly 90 commercial sterilization facilities across the country. The new proposal says the current standards 'actively threaten' manufacturers' ability to sterilize equipment and 'jeopardize one of America's only options for a secure domestic supply chain of essential medical equipment.'

  • In 2016, the EPA first classified ethylene oxide as a human carcinogen.
  • In 2022, the EPA laid out the risks faced by residents who live near medical sterilization facilities.
  • In 2024, the EPA finalized a rule intended to reduce ethylene oxide emissions by about 90% at nearly 90 commercial sterilization facilities.

The players

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment.

Lee Zeldin

EPA Administrator under the Trump administration.

American Lung Association

A non-profit organization focused on lung health and clean air.

Midwest Sterilization Corp.

A Missouri-based company that operates a medical sterilization facility in Laredo, Texas.

Sterigenics

A major medical sterilization company that shuttered a plant in a Chicago suburb after emissions spikes were detected in nearby neighborhoods.

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What they’re saying

“The science shows that both short-term and long-term exposure to ethylene oxide is dangerous for health. People who live near many commercial sterilization facilities are much more likely to develop cancer over their lifetimes. No one should have to live with elevated cancer risk because of air pollution in their community.”

— Laura Kate Bender, Vice President, American Lung Association

“We appreciate the EPA's efforts in listening to and understanding the importance of supplying safe, sterile medical technology without interruption while protecting employees and communities near sterilization facilities.”

— Scott Whitaker, President and CEO, Advanced Medical Technology Association

What’s next

The EPA's proposed rule change is open for public comment before a final decision is made.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the complex tradeoffs between public health, environmental justice, and maintaining a secure domestic supply of essential medical equipment. Balancing these competing priorities will be a key challenge for policymakers going forward.