EPA proposes new standards for ethylene oxide sterilizing facilities

The Environmental Protection Agency today proposed requiring commercial sterilization facilities to comply within 18 months with stricter emission and control standards for ethylene oxide (EtO), a type of gas used to sterilize certain medical devices that cannot be sterilized using alternative methods. Among other requirements focused on worker protection, the proposal would require health care facilities that use EtO sterilization devices to implement certain engineering controls to reduce worker exposure. The EPA will host a public webinar May 1 at 8 p.m. ET to discuss the regulatory proposals, which will be published in the Federal Register with comments accepted for 60 days.