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* I’ve posted a bunch of press releases from Sterigenics and ethylene oxide opponents, so let’s look at this letter sent to legislators earlier today from business interests…
Date: September 25, 2019
To: Honorable Members of the Illinois General Assembly
From: Donovan Griffith, Director of Government Affairs, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
Todd Maisch, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
John Conrad, President & CEO, Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (IBIO)
Mark Biel, Chief Executive Officer, Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI)
RE: Opposition to Further Efforts to Limit or Ban Use of Ethylene OxideThe aforementioned groups have joined together to express our serious concerns and opposition to any additional efforts to further restrict or ban the use of ethylene oxide (EO) in Illinois.
It is very important to note that ethylene oxide sterilizes over 2.1 million medical devices used in Illinois every day. This product is essentially irreplaceable in its effectiveness to combat infection in hospital surgical settings. In most cases, EO’s use in sterilization of medical equipment is the only method approved by the FDA as EO is the only acceptable method of sterilization for many medical devices. Further, ethylene oxide is a significant building block in the creation of an exhaustive list of life-improving products (see attachment) including essential plastics and pharmaceuticals to cosmetics and clothing. The economic hit of an ethylene oxide ban would be significant, with an initial loss of at least 1,500 jobs in Illinois, including unionized positions.
It has only been three short months since the state of Illinois enacted the most stringent restrictions (SB 1852 & SB 1854) on the use and emissions of ethylene oxide, not only in the United States, but in the entire world.
While our organizations opposed these restrictions, the impacted companies have been extremely responsive in compliance. Major renovation and retooling work is currently underway at significant expense. These improvements are ongoing and take considerable time to implement as much of the new equipment must custom-built and installed.Unfortunately, these facilities, while in good faith to comply with the strict regulations, are now hit with the possibility of being completely shut down. While facilities haven’t had the opportunity to complete their work (and gather new data on emissions), some legislators want to stop these facilities from either reopening or remaining open. This proposed action is wrong and can only be described as an unsubstantiated movement of the “goal posts.” These companies are making a good faith effort to comply with the law, making it fundamentally unfair to change the rules, a mere three months into the process.
Industry opposed the enacted laws because we, and many others, see the original USEPA risk assessments as significantly flawed. The USEPA sets a risk value for EO at 600-1200 times lower than the background levels of EO found throughout the Chicagoland area and United States (see attached). While industry continues to challenge the USEPA’s original risk assessment of EO, our member companies are working to comply with the new laws to continue to be protective of the public health and environment.
Before any additional action is taken on EO, the General Assembly needs to recognize the considerable impact such actions would have on Illinois industry which depends upon the use of ethylene oxide.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your time and consideration.
The attachment is here.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:37 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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wow, who wouldn’t be swayed by a letter from THAT group!
Comment by 32nd warder Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:39 am
This is a difficult and complicated issue that can only be addressed by paying opposition researchers a considerable quantity of money HINT HINT
Comment by Will Caskey Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:39 am
===Before any additional action is taken on EO, the General Assembly needs to recognize the considerable impact such actions would have on Illinois industry which depends upon the use of ethylene oxide.===
Companies before people?
Hmm. That’s not a good look when the cancer rate is nine times greater around Sterigenics
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:41 am
=== by a letter from THAT group===
If 2019 has taught us anything, if you want to get something done or kill a bill, enlist organized labor. They’re gonna need a bigger boat.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:42 am
Companies before people?
How many people will die after surgery if it is impossible to sterilize surgical equipment?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:47 am
These groups should first rent office space right next to Sterigenics for a few years then comment
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:49 am
“While our organizations opposed these restrictions“
Telling. The people have a right to not be exposed to a deadly chemical that gives people cancer. The residents behind the activism are doing great work to protect themselves and others. Maybe EO companies should locate somewhere out of the range of hurting people.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:55 am
And let’s revisit this again;
===Before any additional action is taken on EO, the General Assembly needs to recognize the considerable impact such actions would have on Illinois industry which depends upon the use of ethylene oxide.===
Someone wrote this. Purposely. They wrote this to plea for Illinois business
“===the General Assembly needs to recognize the considerable impact such actions would have on Illinois industry…===
Stopping there.
How cold and tone deaf is that? Sincerely.
Ya think a victim of Sterigenics can’t make this statement look embarrassingly cold and unfeeling?
It’s like folks believe “well, if people are going to choose health or Illinois industry, duh, they’re gonna choose industry”
It’s so awful, I’d hate to see the drafts they didn’t choose.
They need to either make this an industrial health issue that the need for Sterigenics and others need to be is also a health issue or stop writing embarrassingly ignorant words that portray corporations are more important than people.
If your name is attached, congratulations, you told folks that people are less than corporations… to you.
Get a better grip on messaging, this is a loser.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:59 am
===How many people will die after surgery if it is impossible to sterilize surgical equipment?===
That’s not the argument they’re making.
===The economic hit of an ethylene oxide ban would be significant, with an initial loss of at least 1,500 jobs in Illinois, including unionized positions.===
That’s the argument they’re making.
Hearts and minds versus pocketbooks and corporate profits.
It’s a loser of a letter. They can make it about jobs, the saving of lives the impact on quality of life but it’s about … 1,500 jobs and Illinois industry.
Yikes. Tone deaf.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:06 am
I did think this was pretty convincing “In most cases, EO’s use in sterilization of medical equipment is the only method approved by the FDA as EO is the only acceptable method of sterilization for many medical devices.” It’s an important point.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:11 am
They should only allow the company to open at the new lower EO rates AND far away from populated areas. NOT at the existing location.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:13 am
WebMD/Georgia Health News just published an article yesterday saying the industry pushed back hard on the Feds from pushing a ban in 2005. Writing has been on the wall for a long time. Here’s a link to the article: http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2019/09/cancer-risks-spark-calls-replace-ethylene-oxide
Comment by MarginofEra Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:13 am
“In most cases, EO’s use in sterilization of medical equipment is the only method approved by the FDA as EO is the only acceptable method of sterilization for many medical devices.”
Well okay, but it needs to happen far away from where people live.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:14 am
=== , if you want to get something done or kill a bill, enlist organized labor ===
Some consultant just lost $50K.
Okay, as long as we’re giving away expensive advice for free:
Organized labor has been at the forefront of fighting for clean air since The Guilded Age. Heck, companies poisoning workers is the four-legged stool upon which the labor movement was built, a fact I am sure former coal miner Tim Drea remembers.
Second, the Manufacturing trades seem “unlikely” to join forces with Todd Maisch, who was essentially a field commander for Bruce Rauner.
Third, any move by the unions would implicate Pritzker and the Democrats, while at the same time not be very well received by Democrats Rita Mayfield and Terry Link.
The business community would have to be able to offer up something that both labor and Democrats really want, and unless they are prepared to sign onto a graduated income tax I can’t think of anything they have to offer.
Andrea Thome just needs to keep the Hospital Association neutral, which I suspect she can manage, and this ball is gonna roll down hill.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:23 am
Interesting challenge for pro-Durkin, pro-business members.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:26 am
===Todd Maisch, who was essentially a field commander for Bruce Rauner.===
“Todd Maisch, Bruce Rauner’s corporate ally, still sees corporate greed over our health and Bruce’s former company.”
Yikes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:30 am
Looks like a Colorado community had similar issues, with the State admitting lifetime low-level exposure could cause an increased cancer risk:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/ethylene-oxide
Comment by revvedup Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:40 am
While I appreciate the “shut down now” argument, this truly needs to be examined closely. Medical device manufacturers cannot produce equipment unless first getting FDA approval that takes up to 2 years.
Nearly all heart valves are sterilized using EO and it cannot be done using radiation, steam, or others sources.
How many people are willing to put a pacemaker, heart valve, or other piece of equipment in their body if its not sterilized?
The majority of EO users are hospitals - not manufacturers - that sterilize in their facilities. How many doctors and hospitals will use non sterilized equipment? The FDA has twice issues warnings about an impact on the ability to get medical instruments and devices.
Yes - this is important and needs to be handled in a thoughtful measured approach. How do you balance potential safety to the public from emissions to the impact on safety in hospitals.
Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 11:24 am
There’s a common misconception that many medical products require EtO for successful sterilization. Extremely often and certainly in terms of a significant volume of products, this incompatibility has nothing to do with the product, but rather with packaging that is convenient for industry to move product by the pallet and have *their* workers put together “kits” rather than hospital staff who did so before the era of “kits.” Product incompatibility with other methods is a myth.
Comment by Microbefiend Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 11:44 am
4percent, the bill in question is a phase out and a prohibition on using the gas near people. It gives hospitals (especially critical access) substantial time to adjust (at longest 2025). Several hospitals have already dropped EtO for the health and safety of their own workers. The FDA has already fast tracked approval for affected device manufacturers. See the georgiahealthnews article shared above for more information about alternative sterilization.
Comment by MarginofEra Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 11:46 am
==Well okay, but it needs to happen far away from where people live.===
People live everywhere. Rural areas might be less resistant due to the need for jobs, but they will be exposed to the same risk that you are avoiding. You should not sleep well knowing that.
If EPA gives them a permit, which should be based on “safe” exposure criteria, and they operate within its limits, then where they are located should not be an issue. The problem is that they have not done so in the past, apparently.
Comment by Jibba Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 12:17 pm
It doesn’t seem credible that ethylene oxide is the only way to sterilize hospital equipment. Sterilization is not high tech. More likely that ethylene oxide is simply a sterilization method that has become standard through the years but could be easily substituted.
Comment by Quiet Sage Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 3:11 pm
There are alternatives to medical sterilization with ETO. Sterigenics purchased Noxilizer and then then squashed its use, which would be a safer alternative. I work in the healthcare industry, Many hospitals are phasing out ETO.
Comment by SL Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 3:22 pm
== Interesting challenge for pro-Durkin, pro-business members. ==
Normally, GOP legislators would be onboard with the business groups and chemical industry. The only difference is that the Sterigenics plant is in the backyard of two GOP legislators. The secret to winning GOP support for stricter regs of dangerous chemicals is apparently to have significant exposure in their home districts.
Comment by anon2 Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 4:00 pm
Let’s not forget Donovan was a Rauner flunky at IEPA while they were sweeping Sterigenics under the rug.
Maybe not the most credible person to make your spokesperson on this?
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 5:18 pm
Illinois must ban facilities from using the toxic gas ethylene oxide in densely populated communities.
Comment by Enviro Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 6:07 pm