According to a new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, more than 14 million Americans live within just five miles of 104 cancer gas-emitting facilities. The study found that these commercial plants release large amounts of ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide, a colorless gas known to cause cancer, is emitted by facilities that sterilize medical equipment and dried food products as well as by some chemical plants, posing a largely invisible and unrecognized threat to nearby communities. This Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that the facilities emitting ethylene oxide are disproportionately polluting communities of color, low-income communities, and non-English language-speaking communities. In addition, more than one-quarter of commercial sterilizers are located in “hotspots” where nearby residents are potentially exposed to ethylene oxide emissions from more than one facility—often without their knowledge.
You can read the report and use an interactive map to learn more about the facilities emitting ethylene oxide near you.