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EPA Final Rule Limits Use Of Ethylene Oxide

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

The rule, which requires most device sterilization plants to track and report their EtO emissions, will go into effect in two years for the largest plants and three years for the smallest.

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) in white plastic laboratory packaging
• Source: Shutterstock

A final rule from the US Environmental Protection Agency aims to cut ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions by more than 90%, slashing the use of a treatment that once sterilized almost half the devices sold in the US.

The rule requires most commercial users of EtO to continuously monitor their emissions of the chemical and report their findings...

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