The City of Vernon was recently made aware of a published letter dated May 17, 2022, from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn urging the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to require Sterigenics U.S. LLC of Vernon, California to cease operations of any activity contributing to elevated air emissions of Ethylene Oxide (EtO).

SCAQMD is the regulatory body with jurisdiction and authority over air emissions in the Vernon area; the City is awaiting further data and direction from SCAQMD regarding emission levels at the Sterigenics site. As of their most recent data, SCAQMD reports that measurements of EtO in the community near Sterigenics are below health risk levels established by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The City is staying in close communication and will work with SCAQMD on any action plan as they continue to monitor community air conditions; and the City is actively working with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on any required community notifications. The City also received the following information from Sterigenics. U.S. LLC regarding operations of their sterilization plant:

• The government, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sets sterility requirements that determine the method of sterilization based on the materials and design of the product being sterilized
• It takes 6-9 months for a sterilization company to become FDA approved
• FDA requires sterilization companies to use EtO to sterilize medical devices
• Sterigenics sterilizes between 3.5 to 4 million medical devices each month
• EtO used for medical equipment makes up 1% of all EtO produced in the country
• Primary EtO emissions come from car equipment, cleaning chemicals, soap, anti-freeze, etc.
• Sterigenics is the primary company that sterilizes medical devices, including surgical equipment, for major hospitals in Los Angeles County
• Sterigenics employs 41 people who use Personal Protective Equipment respirators
• The Vernon facility is “negative pressure facility” - a technical isolation process is used to prevent chemicals from being released outside and to prevent cross-carrying of chemicals to areas outside the facility

For the latest updates on SCAQMD's EtO investigation, please visit the agency's webpage here: SCAQMD EO Emissions.

For more information about Sterigenics visit: www.sterigenicsvernon.com/updates.