Congressman Johnson Announces EPA Affirms EtO Health Risk

COVINGTON, GA - Today, Rep. Hank Johnson - as part of the bipartisan Congressional Ethylene Oxide Task Force - released the following statement from his office and the task force about the Environmental Protection Agency's Decision to stand by the 2016 IRIS Value of ethylene oxide (EtO):

"I consider this the beginning of the process and an important first step, not the end," said Rep. Johnson. "Our communities in and around the ethylene oxide plant in Newton County deserve transparency and accountability - from both industry and government -- and I will continue working as part of the task force to do everything I can to protect my constituents in Newton County and beyond."

After years of advocacy from the Congressional EtO Task Force, the EPA announced this week that it will continue relying on the agency's 2016, peer-reviewed IRIS value. The IRIS value guides how dangerously the Agency views EtO and how strictly the EPA will regulate the chemical going forward. The 2016 IRIS value showed that EtO is significantly more toxic and harmful to surrounding communities than was previously understood. By locking the 2016 value into agency regulations, the EPA is demonstrating commitment to preserving public health and protecting affected communities.

Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10) founded the bipartisan Congressional EtO Task Force in 2019. Members also include Reps: Troy Carter (LA-02), Sean Casten (IL-06), Bill Foster (IL- 11), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), David Scott (GA-13), Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Susan Wild (PA-07).

"As Members of the bipartisan Congressional EtO Task Force, we have heard firsthand how harmful EtO is to impacted communities. As a result, one of the Task Force's top priorities has always been ensuring that the EPA upholds a strong standard in how they will regulate the chemical going forward. The EPA's decision today to uphold the 2016 IRIS value, despite the industry pushing for a weaker standard, is a huge step forward for our constituents who have been impacted by EtO. We applaud the EPA for listening and we look forward to continued collaboration with the agency to reduce the harmful effects of EtO on our communities going forward."

The Task Force advocates for stricter regulation of EtO to protect public health. EtO is an industrial chemical used in chemical manufacturing sterilize medical devices. Since 2016, EtO has been deemed a "known carcinogen" and the release of the 2018 National Air Toxics Assessment identified several Illinois communities facing dangerously high EtO emissions.

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