Ethylene Oxide Frequently Asked Questions

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports that over 14 million people live within five miles of 104 ethylene oxide (EtO)-emitting facilities, with a disproportionate impact on people of color and low-income communities. EtO is a known carcinogen used primarily for medical sterilization, and UCS advocates for stricter EPA emissions controls and the adoption of less toxic alternatives.

• A Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that more than 14 million people reside within five miles of 104 facilities that emit ethylene oxide (EtO), including commercial sterilizers. This distribution represents an environmental justice issue, as over 48 percent of these residents identify as people of color, nearly 32 percent are low-income, and nearly 8 percent have limited English language proficiency.
• The document identifies 'sterilizer hotspots' as areas where two or more sterilizers are located within 10 miles of each other; 28 percent of commercial sterilizers are situated in such hotspots. Communities of color are more likely to be located in these hotspots, face higher cancer risks from air toxics, and be near facilities failing to comply with the Clean Air Act.
• Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen linked to breast cancer in women and white blood cell cancers, including myeloma, lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Children are noted as being especially vulnerable due to rapid cell division and the chemical's ability to damage DNA.
• In census tracts containing the 104 identified facilities, EtO emissions account for approximately one-third of the total cancer risk derived from nearly 140 toxic air pollutants.
• While EtO is used to sterilize half of all medical equipment nationwide, the UCS asserts that viable, less toxic alternatives exist and urges the EPA and FDA to phase out its use in commercial sterilizers.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2023). Ethylene Oxide Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Invisible-Threat-Inequitable-Impact-fact-sheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Ethylene Oxide Frequently Asked Questions. 2023. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Invisible-Threat-Inequitable-Impact-fact-sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Ethylene Oxide Frequently Asked Questions |date=February 2023 |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Invisible-Threat-Inequitable-Impact-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2023ethylene, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Ethylene Oxide Frequently Asked Questions}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Invisible-Threat-Inequitable-Impact-fact-sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }