Sandy Springs, GA — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) released a statement regarding reports of dangerous emissions of ethylene oxide at Sterigenics’ plant located in Smyrna, GA.

“The health and wellbeing of our children, our families, and our communities must be safeguarded,” McBath said. “That is why I am calling for Sterigenics to suspend its use of ethylene oxide immediately until we can fully assess the risks posed to our communities. An independent air study must be conducted and we need to determine whether cancer risks have been elevated due to these emissions.”

In 2016, federal regulators linked ethylene oxide to cancer in humans. Sterigenics’ Illinois plant has suspended operations after the federal EPA conducted air tests showing extremely high levels of ethylene oxide in the area. In May, the EPA announced the Illinois plant was responsible for cancer risks up to 10 times higher than EPA standards.

###