EPA提议放宽环氧乙烷规则,在供应链关切中危及公共健康。 EPA proposes easing ethylene oxide rules, risking public health amid supply chain concerns.

环保局提议减少对环氧乙烷的空气污染限制,乙烷是一种致癌化学品,用于对医疗设备进行消毒,扭转拜登时代的规则。 The EPA has proposed weakening air pollution limits on ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical used to sterilize medical devices, reversing a Biden-era rule. 此举以国内供应链的风险和潜在的设备短缺为由,旨在放宽严格的排放要求,使近100个设施的污染减少90%。 The move, citing risks to the domestic supply chain and potential device shortages, aims to ease stringent emissions requirements that would have cut pollution by 90% at nearly 100 facilities. 虽然该机构维持了先前的排放标准,但批评者警告说,这种变化危及公共健康,特别是在绝育工厂附近的社区,并指责环保局放弃健康影响评估,同时仍在衡量行业储蓄。 While the agency maintains previous emission standards, critics warn the change endangers public health, especially in communities near sterilization plants, and accuse the EPA of abandoning health impact assessments while still measuring industry savings. 该化学品在所有医疗设备中约有一半使用,与白血病、淋巴瘤和乳腺癌相关联。 The chemical, used in about half of all medical devices, is linked to leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer.