The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that will reduce ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilization facilities.
The final rule will require 88 existing commercial sterilizers and two planned facilities nationwide to comply with stricter air pollution controls. The guidelines represent the strongest air standards enacted in U.S. history for ethylene oxide, a potent carcinogen.
The new measures will reduce emissions at commercial sterilization facilities by more than 90%, the EPA said.
The agency first proposed the emission standards in April 2023, outlining an 18-month deadline for facilities to comply. Facilities now have two to three years to meet these standards, depending on their size. The EPA said it extended this compliance window after receiving feedback from the industry, including the American Hospital Association and Premier.
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