Ethylene Oxide Emissions May Have Raised Cancer Risks in Lake County

The CDC wants to ensure that Lake County physicians are aware of residents’ exposure to toxic gasses

According to a federal study released last week on monitoring ethylene oxide emission (EtO)s pollution, residents living near two plants in Lake County could face significantly greater risks of developing certain cancers.

EtO is a colorless, odorless gas that can be used to clean medical devices. The Lake County-based entities identified in the study include Medline Industries in Waukegan and Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee. The report suggests that their pollution controls may not have been fully operational in recent years.

The study found that emissions of the highly toxic gas from Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee were responsible for long-term cancer risks of up to 20 times higher than federal guidelines. Medline Industries, located a few miles away from Vantage, emitted pollution up to 10 times the rate that the federal government considers acceptable.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a communication in a Q&A format concerning the health evaluation of EtO in outdoor air near these plants.

If you have questions, please contact the ISMS Health Policy Research and Advocacy team by email.