DIAMOND BAR, California., 22 August 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) recently reached an agreement with Sterigenics US, LLC (Sterigenics), a medical sterilization company with facilities in Vernon And Ontariofor violations of permits and other regulations. As part of the settlement, Sterigenics will pay a 587,800 USD Penalty.
Violations settled at the Vernon Facility violations include failure to maintain the air pollution control system in good working order at all times and violations of other permit conditions. Violations that Ontario Potential damage to a facility includes failure to maintain permitted equipment in good working order at all times and malfunctions in air pollution control equipment.
Sterigenics sterilizes medical devices using ethylene oxide (EtO), a flammable, colorless gas. EtO is also sometimes used to manufacture products such as antifreeze, textiles, solvents, cleaning products, and adhesives. The greatest public health risk associated with EtO is long-term exposure (i.e., over several years), as it increases the risk of certain cancers, including lymph and breast cancer. Other short-term health effects may also occur from exposure to EtO, but not at the concentrations found near these facilities.
Sterigenics’ Vernon The facility is located in two buildings between 49th and 50th Streets on Gifford Avenue in an industrial area in Vernon, CaliforniaSterigenics also performs medical device sterilization at a facility located at 687 Wanamaker Avenue in Ontario, California.
To June 7, 2022 And 29 September 2022the Sterigenics Vernon and Ontario The facilities were classified as potentially high-risk facilities. Monitoring near both facilities found that emissions exceeded cancer risk thresholds of over 100 per million.
As a potentially high-risk facility, Sterigenics Vernon and Ontario were asked to develop an Early Action Reduction Plan (EARP), which contains measures that can be taken immediately to reduce health risks. In addition, the facilities were required to conduct a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and submit a Risk Reduction Plan (RRP). The Vernon HRA was June 12, 2024 A public meeting to discuss the results took place on 7 August 2024The Ontario HRA is currently under review by South Coast AQMD.
South Coast AQMD continues to take actions to identify sources and reduce emissions. These actions include:
- Air monitoring measures at and near facilities and the surrounding community.
- If applicable, report illegal disposal of hazardous waste.
- Thorough inspections of facilities to ensure compliance with South Coast AQMD rules, regulations and permit requirements.
- Evaluate measures to reduce leaks or fugitive emissions, including improved leak detection and testing of air pollution control equipment.
- Adoption of amended Rule 1405 to further reduce EtO emissions from sterilization and related operations.
For more information about South Coast AQMD’s activities related to Sterigenics, visit: www.aqmd.gov/eto.
South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality in large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, riverside And San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.
SOURCE SOUTH COAST AQMD
