Medline’s state-of-the-art emissions control systems continues to demonstrate that it captures more than 99% of all EtO used. We operate our plant under negative pressure to control any potential fugitive emissions. Furthermore, Medline aerates most sterilized surgical kits for at least 48 hours.
When a sterilized surgical kit leaves Medline Waukegan, we know it’s safe to use by patients and medical providers because we perform FDA-required residual risk testing.
Illinois has the leading EtO regulatory standards in the country. Current law requires that Medline regularly report ambient air and emissions data to the Illinois EPA to ensure our facility is in full safety compliance. Our filings, publicly available on the agency’s website, show that Medline is under its annual emissions cap.
The Lake County Health Department conducted the most extensive EtO ambient air monitoring of any community in the country, collecting 606 ambient air samples between 2019 and 2020. Air monitoring data shows a pattern of extremely low background levels of EtO in Waukegan around Medline’s facility and is further evidence that our sterilization operation is conducted safely. Indeed, these levels are considerably lower than background levels the U.S. EPA has measured in cities across the nation without stationary sources of EtO nearby.
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