EPA Shares Results Of Sterigenics Air Quality Testing

WILLOWBROOK, IL — The U.S. EPA released an update on Dec. 7 which shared results of three days of air quality monitoring in Willowbrook. The EPA said tests were conducted on Nov. 13, 16 and 19.

According to the EPA, results included monitors detecting ethylene oxide in the air at the two sites closest to the Sterigenics facility. However, ethylene oxide was not detected at the six community-oriented sites, which were at schools and in residential areas.

"It is premature to draw conclusions from the data. EPA plans to continue monitoring in the Willowbrook area for three months and will continue to post data as it becomes available," the EPA shared on its page created for Sterigenics.

Congressman Dan Lipinski released a statement after seeing the results from the EPA.

"Despite Sterigenics’ claims that it isn’t a public health threat, and despite their new pollution control equipment, initial EPA testing has shown significant EtO emissions around the facility," Lipinski said. "While more testing will be occurring, this preliminary data confirms my belief that this plant is a threat to public health and unless data is provided to the contrary, I maintain that this plant should be shut down.”

The organization said it will conduct a full assesssment of risk from ethylene oxide in Willowbrook, and they expect to be finished with that assessment in spring 2019.

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