Opinion: Protect Maywood’s workers from a silent killer: OSHA must act on ethylene oxide now

Every day, workers in Maywood, California, a small, predominantly Latino community, are exposed to a toxic gas that is invisible, odorless and deadly. Ethylene oxide (EtO), used to sterilize nearly half of all medical equipment in the U.S., quietly poses a threat to the health of thousands who work in nearby manufacturing and sterilization facilities. This chemical, vital for hospitals and pharmaceutical production, is also a known human carcinogen, and it’s putting Maywood’s workers and families at risk. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) must act now to enforce stronger, science-based protections for those exposed to EtO. Without urgent action, the lives of countless workers will continue to be jeopardized by outdated safety standards that no longer reflect the dangers we are aware of today. 

EtO exposure: A silent and deadly threat 

Ethylene oxide is beneficial to sterilize medical instruments that can’t withstand high heat, but its consequences to the workers’ health who use this gas are undeniable. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both confirmed that long-term EtO exposure can lead to breast cancer, lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia. Even short-term exposure can cause severe respiratory and neurological symptoms. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 50% of medical devices in the U.S. - over 20 billion devices each year - are sterilized with EtO.  

For many Maywood workers employed at the Sterigenics facility and their families living in the area, the situation is dire. According to an EtO exposure map, Maywood is situated directly in the epicenter of the life-threatening emissions from the Los Angeles plant. We’re referring to a community of approximately 24,593 people, with a Latino population of 97.6%. However, it’s not just the employees and their families who are at risk—many others who live, work or attend school nearby are also exposed to the same toxic air, often without realizing the danger they face. The reality is that this contamination extends beyond the plant’s fence line, silently endangering an entire community that has long been overlooked. 

Regarding health outcomes, we already have a clear picture of the human cost of EtO exposure nationwide. In Willowbrook, Illinois, and Laredo, Texas, air modeling near the Sterigenics facilities revealed cancer risks that were many times higher than the federal benchmark and exceeded the EPA’s acceptable level.

Outdated OSHA standards leave workers unprotected

Despite well-documented dangers, OSHA’s permissible exposure limits (PELs) for EtO have remained unchanged since 1984, even before the full extent of the human health hazards associated with exposure to this toxic gas was known. The EPA has reassessed the chemical’s risks and concluded that its carcinogenic potential is far higher than previously understood. 

This creates a dangerous disconnect between environmental and workplace safety standards. While the EPA lowered the worker’s PEL to 0.5 ppm by 2028, 0.25 ppm by 2030, and 0.1 ppm by 2035, OSHA’s standards from 1984 remain at 1 ppm. As a result, workers are still breathing air that regulators already know is unsafe. 

A call for stronger worker protection 

It’s time for OSHA to close this regulatory gap and update its ethylene oxide standards to reflect current scientific knowledge. That means lowering allowable exposure limits, requiring continuous air monitoring, mandating improved ventilation systems and ensuring workers have access to proper protective gear and regular health screenings. These are not radical ideas. They are basic measures that would protect thousands of workers from preventable illnesses. The technology to monitor and reduce EtO emissions already exists. What’s missing is the political will to prioritize people’s health over profits. 

Local advocacy can make a difference. Labor organizations, environmental justice groups and residents across southeast Los Angeles have long fought against pollution and chemical exposure. Policymakers in California must press OSHA for swift action and ensure that the state agencies also strengthen oversight of facilities using EtO. 

The people who sterilize our hospitals’ surgery tools, produce our pharmaceuticals and package essential supplies are doing vital work. Still, they should not have to sacrifice their health to keep others safe. For too long, low-income, predominantly Latino communities like Maywood have borne the burden of toxic industry operations with little recourse. It’s time for OSHA to act before more families in Maywood and across California are forced to face lifelong consequences of exposure to a preventable hazard. Worker safety is a fundamental human right, not a negotiable benefit.