President Donald Trump issued a proclamation this month that postpones a critical regulation aimed at curbing ethylene oxide emissions from facilities that utilize the gas for sterilizing medical equipment.
The proclamation grants two-year exemptions to multiple sterilization facilities, including two located in Vernon, California, a city within southeast Los Angeles County.
These facilities are currently the subject of a lawsuit filed by local residents who allege health risks associated with the emissions.
Ethylene oxide is a flammable, colorless gas that serves a vital role in the sterilization of various medical devices, ranging from syringes to intricate heart valves.
However, it is classified as a carcinogen by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Cancer Institute.
Prolonged exposure can significantly elevate the risk of certain cancers, including lymphoma, leukemia, and stomach and breast cancer.
Short-term inhalation of high concentrations can result in headaches, fatigue, respiratory difficulties, nausea, and gastrointestinal distress.
In response to health concerns, the new rule established under the EPA’s 2024 guidelines sought to mitigate the risk of exposure to ethylene oxide for those living, working, or studying near these sterilization facilities.
Despite this, President Trump argues that the exemptions are essential for maintaining the medical equipment supply chain for the country’s sick and injured.
Advocates like Darya Minovi, a senior analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, contend that Trump’s decision undermines public health.
Minovi was the principal author of the 2023 report, “Invisible Threat, Inequitable Impact,” which highlighted that over 14 million Americans reside within a five-mile radius of commercial sterilization facilities that emit ethylene oxide.
The communities in proximity to these facilities disproportionately consist of people of color.
Trump defended his proclamation by asserting that the technology necessary for implementing the ethylene oxide regulations is not commercially viable.
He warned that enforcing the rule could lead to the closure of existing sterilization facilities, which would disrupt the essential supply of medical equipment.
Minovi responded to these claims by reminding that the potential health risks associated with ethylene oxide have been recognized for decades.
Furthermore, she noted that last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved hydrogen peroxide as an alternative for medical sterilization.
In her view, the years of community advocacy to establish the regulation should not be disregarded, especially after extensive public participation efforts, including technical comments, research, and testimonies presented during community meetings with the EPA.
Residents’ concerns pointed towards two Sterigenics facilities in Vernon, closely located to Maywood, a predominantly Latino and working-class city.
Current and former residents of Maywood, many facing cancer diagnoses, are part of the ongoing lawsuit against Sterigenics.
Court documents reveal that plaintiffs are seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses, funeral costs, lost wages, and emotional distress over illness and loss.
Among the plaintiffs, numerous breast cancer diagnoses have been recorded, along with cases of leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, stomach cancer, and precancerous conditions affecting both adults and a toddler.
Placing the Sterigenics facilities merely blocks away from their homes, residents express discontent about the risks posed to their health and the community as a whole.
In a prior communication, a Sterigenics spokesperson stated that the company empathizes with those battling cancer yet maintains confidence that it did not cause these illnesses, expressing a commitment to defending its operations against the claims.
While acknowledging the critical nature of sterilized medical equipment supply, the residents question whether the costs of this production should be borne disproportionately by their community.
Jay Parepally, a federal climate justice legal fellow at Communities for a Better Environment, emphasized the burden placed on the community, which is still dealing with pollution issues stemming from the Exide battery recycling plant in the surrounding areas.
Parepally pointed out that delaying regulations at the federal level could also hinder state and local regulation processes, further jeopardizing community health.
Citing ongoing vulnerabilities in Southeast L.A., especially concerning civil rights violations, he argued for prioritizing residents’ health over industry interests.
As for how Sterigenics will be regulated moving forward, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, responsible for air monitoring and regulatory enforcement in parts of California, has yet to respond to inquiries regarding Trump’s proclamation.
Sterigenics and its parent company, Sotera Health, have faced numerous lawsuits throughout the United States.
In 2023, the companies collectively settled 870 lawsuits in Illinois concerning ethylene oxide exposure for $408 million, although they assert that their operations do not pose a safety threat to neighboring communities.
In addition to the facilities located in Vernon, Trump’s proclamation grants exemptions to seven other Sterigenics facilities across the country and Puerto Rico, including one in Ontario, California.
William Boyd, co-director of UCLA’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment, noted that Trump’s use of authority to issue this proclamation is unprecedented amongst presidents.
He anticipates that environmental justice advocates will challenge the proclamation in court.
A pivotal question will be whether the president’s claims regarding technological unavailability and national security interests hold valid, and whether sufficient reasoning underlies his stance.
Boyd highlighted that the EPA’s rule clearly states that the control technology and associated limitations are accessible and available.
The assertion that such technology is unattainable simply due to cost is therefore questionable.
Ultimately, Boyd stressed the importance of recognizing the real-world implications of such policies, as they directly affect people’s lives, health, and communities.
The fundamental issue remains: will the decisions made at the national level prioritize community health and safety over industrial demand?
The consequences of Trump’s proclamation could have lasting impacts on Southeast L.A. residents already facing numerous environmental health challenges.
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