Moylan-Backed Initiative to Crack Down on Ethylene Oxide Passes the House

DES PLAINES, Ill. – Continuing his efforts to protect the Des Plaines River and surrounding communities, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, co-sponsored legislation that would lead to stronger regulations on the use of ethylene oxide in the state of Illinois.

“We need to fully protect our communities from ethylene oxide,” said Moylan. “This chemical is a known carcinogenic and studies show that communities near facilities that use this product have been negatively impacted while their people are getting cancer.”

This past week, Illinois house legislators passed a measure to significantly decrease the usage of ethylene oxide in the state. Ethylene Oxide has proven to lead to an outbreak of cancer diagnoses in surrounding communities and became front page news when a company was forced to close in Willowbrook due to the harmful chemicals they used.

Moylan co-sponsored House Bill 3888, which by 2021 would ban the use of Ethylene Oxide (EtO) by sterilizers, manufacturers and hospitals in high density areas like Gurnee and Waukegan, and increase regulations for these entities in less densely populated areas. Under this measure, emitters would also have to submit a phase out plan to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to review and approve before closing shop. House Bill 3888 passed the house and will be considered in the Illinois Senate.

“There are plants in Lake County that are upstream on the Des Plaines River who are using these chemicals,” said Moylan. “It is my job to take matters like this seriously and fight for the safety of our community and keep our river and air clean and safe to use for residents.” For more information about House Bill 3888 please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-6821 or email StateRepMoylan@gmail.com.