Trump proposes to loosen rules for cancer-causing gas from sterilizer plants

descriptions off, selected

captions settings, opens captions settings dialog

Subtitles (en), selected

This is a modal window.

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

End of dialog window.

The Hill's Headlines — March 13, 2026

The Hill's Headlines — March 13, 2026

The Trump administration proposed Friday to loosen rules surrounding emissions of a cancer-causing gas from sterilizer plants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to loosen requirements for sterilizer plants that emit a gas known as ethylene oxide.

The EPA says ethylene oxide can cause lymphoma, myeloma and lymphocytic leukemia, as well as breast cancer in women. In 2022, it identified elevated cancer risks in nearly two dozen communities located near plants that release this toxic gas.

In 2024, the Biden administration sought to cut down on sterilizer emissions by 90 percent. 

Now, the Trump administration says some of the emissions controls in that rule would no longer be applied. It says other requirements would be reduced if its proposal is finalized.

In a statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the move was being made to prevent disruptions to the medical device supply chain, in which the chemical is used.

“The Trump EPA is committed to ensuring life-saving medical devices remain available for the critical care of America’s children, elderly, and all patients without unnecessary exposure to communities,” Zeldin said.

Last year, the Trump administration temporarily exempted about 40 plants from the standards.

The Biden administration previously said it would consider requests for exemptions to its rule for “exceptional circumstances” in which a sterilizer could show it would be unable to meet the standards.

Critics argued the Trump administration’s move could lead to more toxic exposures.

“This decision is a reckless and self-serving handout to big industry,” said Darya Minovi, a senior analyst for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement, also describing it as “an affront to communities that have unknowingly lived with ethylene oxide exposure for decades.”

“These actions show, yet again, that this administration has little to no regard for the health and welfare of working people or any interest in protecting children from exposure to toxic chemicals,” Minovi said.

In recent months, the Trump administration’s policies that are supportive of chemicals have met scrutiny not only from left-wing advocates, but also from activists in the GOP-aligned “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More Energy & Environment News

Trump officials erupt at CNN over report on surprise over Strait of Hormuz ...

98-year-old federal judge suspended for mental fitness appeals to Supreme Court

Bessent's interview halted for urgent talks in Situation Room: ‘The president ...

Powell called these 13 lawmakers as DOJ opened criminal probe

Hegseth orders ‘ruthless, no-excuses’ review of military legal offices

Lawmaker who accused Trump of Kennedy Center snub missed invite in spam folder

Military commanders given deadline to remove Anthropic products from systems

Trump confirms giving officials dress shoes: ‘I don’t want my Cabinet ...

Republicans, Democrats warn Trump administration against pulling US troops from ...

Trump says war with Iran will end when ‘I feel it in my bones’

Hegseth says Iran’s supreme leader ‘wounded and likely disfigured’

The bright side of the 5th Circuit’s disturbing Ten Commandments decision

Landmark housing bill overwhelmingly passes Senate, faces uncertain future in ...

House Republicans threaten to oppose Senate bills until SAVE America Act passes

Hegseth blasts CNN: ‘The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the ...

Leavitt pushes back against report of FBI warning of Iran threat to California

Trump threatens Iran leaders: ‘Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags ...

Democrats block bill to reopen Homeland Security amid 27-day shutdown

© The Hill