MedTech Dive November 27, 2023
Everything from hospital gowns and surgical tools to plastic tubing and implantable devices must be sterilized before a surgery to reduce infection risks. One of the most common sterilization methods for medical equipment is ethylene oxide (EtO), a type of gas that has come under scrutiny from regulators and environmental groups for years because of its cancer-causing effects.
The Environmental Protection Agency is required to finalize new restrictions on EtO next year, following years of controversy and litigation about the safety of the gas. The emissions limits are expected to reduce the risk of cancer for people who work in or live near sterilization facilities, but device companies have also raised concerns that some of the proposed changes could...
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