EPA Dilutes Plan on Carcinogen Ethylene Oxide After FDA Push (1)

The EPA watered down its request to find out more about how companies use ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment after the Food and Drug Administration claimed jurisdiction over the use of the cancer-causing chemical to ensure these devices are safe for patient use.

“The FDA believes this entire section is not relevant to EPA’s role of setting appropriate emission levels and monitoring emissions,” the FDA wrote in its comments on a recent EPA notice about ethylene oxide. “FDA requests the deletion of this entire discussion about FDA requirements and matters within FDA jurisdiction.”

In the draft version of its ...