In Georgia, employees at a medical supply warehouse are grappling with serious health issues tied to the carcinogenic sterilant ethylene oxide used on medical devices. In short:Ethylene oxide, a carcinogen, is linked to several health problems in workers at a Georgia warehouse where medical devices are stored. Regulatory bodies like OSHA and the EPA have been scrutinized for their handling of ethylene oxide emissions, leading to new state-level measures. Georgia's efforts to regulate warehouse emissions stand out nationally, highlighting a significant but previously overlooked source of toxic exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is updating EtO regulations, but environmental health advocates say the new protections aren't sufficient to protect workers and nearby residents.

Source: The Guardian March 01, 2024 11:56 UTC