Vernon is an almost exclusively industrial city just southeast of downtown Los Angeles. And one of the companies that operates within Vernon has recently become the target of lawsuits over its use of a chemical called ethylene oxide, a colorless, flammable gas used to sterilize medical supplies. It’s also a known carcinogen .
As the lawsuits make their way through court, local air regulators say they are working to protect residents and off-site workers from potentially harmful chemical emissions. And not just in Vernon — air regulators are monitoring ethylene oxide levels at more than a dozen facilities in Greater L.A.
Because it can be used on a wide range of materials, ethylene oxide is well-suited for sterilizing medical equipment. But public health officials say long-term exposure to it can increase one’s risk of developing certain cancers , as well as reproductive issues . The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is responsible for monitoring the air and enforcing regulations in L.
A., Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. There are currently 15 facilities that use ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment under the agency’s jurisdiction, according to Susan Nakamura, SCAQMD’s chief operating officer.
There is also one facility devoted to ethylene oxide aeration, which is the process of removing residual gas from items that have been sterilized. SCAQMD began investigating facilities that use ethylene oxide in March 2022. At the time.