DES PLAINES, Ill. – State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, has sponsored a measure to prohibit Ethylene Oxide Sterilization (EtO) in Illinois in response to increased concern about the health risks facilities dealing with the chemical have on local families.

“The gas Ethylene Oxide (EtO) has proven to be dangerous to our communities, with an obvious increase in people being diagnosed with cancer and health difficulties in the areas surrounding facilities using EtO,” said Moylan. “This dangerous chemical ends up in our air and water and ends up poisoning nearby communities.”

Earlier this year, EtO user Sterigenics was forced to stop production at a facility in Willowbrook because of a failure to meet specific environmental standards. Recent studies suggested that proximity to EtO increases an individual’s chances of being diagnosed with cancer, and local  scrutiny from neighborhood groups eventually led to pressure to close the facility.

Steringenics is only one out of 26 companies in Illinois that use EtO. Most of the other facilities are in Lake County, and Moylan has expressed concern that the poisonous chemical could leak into the Des Plaines River and run south through Des Plaines in his district. As a result, Moylan has sponsored House Bill 3888 to ban the use of EtO in Illinois facilities.

“We need to protect our environment from dangerous chemicals like EtO,” said Moylan. “Particularly in residential areas where families are being raised, we need to be vigilant and remove dangers.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, released the following statement in advance of the public forum on Ethlene Oxide (EtO) at the College of Lake County being held at 6:30 p.m. today:

“Following the announcement by Sterigenics about its plan to close its Willowbrook facility, it is clear that Medline and Vantage should adopt the same sense of responsibility and immediately shutter their toxic facilities.

“The people of Lake County can no longer be victims of corporate profits by poisoning the public. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate to ensure the Illinois General Assembly does the right thing and protects the health and safety of our constituents against corporate interests that are poisoning our people.

“After living in the vicinity of these factories my entire life, my father was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer. We have no history of cancer in our family. Like many Lake County families, we wonder if the excessive EtO pollution caused this horrific disease.”

Yingling has been an outspoken advocate for the ban of EtO use and has introduced numerous bills to achieve that objective. He is a Chief Co-Sponsor of House Bill 3888, which places the most restrictive ban on EtO emissions in the country.

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, released the following statement regarding the announcement by Sterigenics about their plan to close their Willowbrook facility:

“The closing of the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility is long overdue. Sterigenics finally saw the writing on the wall that we in Illinois place the health of our citizens over the profits of greedy corporations. I will always fight companies that look to harm our communities for their own financial gain, and today was a significant step in moving towards that goal.

“With Sterigenics finally closed, we must now turn our attention to the two factories in Lake County that continue to poison our residents for their own profit. There is still more work to be done when it comes to keeping our air clean from toxic chemicals such as ethylene oxide, and going forward, companies need to prioritize the health of our communities over profits.”

LOMBARD, Ill. – To protect DuPage County residents from emissions of ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical linked to several types of lethal cancers, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, is backing a new legislative proposal to limit the use of the chemical by industrial facilities, such as Sterigenics International in Willowbrook.

“It is outrageous that Sterigenics has been allowed to spew dangerous amounts of deadly ethylene oxide into the air for decades,” said Costa Howard. “It is time for our state to stand up to corporations that put profits ahead of our health and endanger our families.”

Costa Howard is backing House Bill 3888, which adds a wide array of restrictions and regulations on the use of ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment. The legislation also would require air monitoring for all ethylene oxide emission points, specific reporting by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on ethylene oxide emissions in Illinois communities, and increased transparency to the public.

“You shouldn’t have to live in fear of being poisoned with every breath you take inside your own home,” Costa Howard said. “This legislation will hold polluters accountable and bring peace of mind to families living in communities near these dangerous industrial plants. I urge lawmakers to pass this legislation as soon as possible and send it to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Costa Howard’s constituent service office at RepTCH48@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new piece of legislation sponsored by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is calling for the complete ban of ethylene oxide emissions near highly populated areas, schools and daycares by the year 2021.

“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished with ethylene oxide regulation this year. Without question, Illinois is now the nation’s leader in restricting emissions of ethylene oxide,” said Mason. “However, exposure to any amount of ethylene oxide is detrimental to the health of our residents, which is why I am proud to be championing legislation that brings the level of ethylene oxide emitted in our community to virtually zero.”

In addition to banning emissions near highly populated areas, Mason’s House Bill 3888 calls for the elimination of ethylene oxide emissions from hospitals by the year 2022. Mason led the fight for the nation’s toughest regulation of ethylene oxide during her first legislative session this spring, passing two measures that severely limit the amount of ethylene oxide that can be emitted by both sterilization and manufacturing facilities.

“I raised my children just miles from our area’s largest emitters, while myself and countless other residents were kept in the dark for years about the cancer-causing effects of those emissions,” said Mason. “I am determined to protect current and future generations from harmful polluters, and I will continue fighting for tougher restrictions on ethylene oxide emissions until its hazardous effects have been eliminated in our community.”

CHICAGO, Ill. – Along with several other legislators, environmental groups, and activist groups, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, held a press conference unveiling House Bill 3888 to combat the growing health crisis that ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical linked to various forms of cancer, has caused.

“We cannot allow companies to poison people for profits,” said Yingling. “Now is the time for the legislature to unite and send a clear, strong message that emitting unsafe amounts of ethylene oxide into our state will not be tolerated.”
Yingling’s House Bill 3888 adds a number of restrictions and regulations on the use of ethylene oxide. The bill bans the use of ethylene oxide for sterilizers by 2021 and hospitals by 2022. The legislation would also require air monitoring for all ethylene oxide emission points, reporting by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on where ethylene oxide is being emitted, and increased public information.

While Yingling has fought in Springfield to limit ethylene oxide usage, he has also been working around his district to raise awareness of the issue and rally public support. Yingling has informed the public about the issue at an environmental town hall, as well as during his various Coffee with Sam events. Yingling met with concerned citizens and activists about the issue to learn how he can best help the community. Yingling also circulated petitions in support of stopping the use of ethylene oxide. Residents who are interested in adding their names to Yingling’s petition can contact his constituent service office at 847-231-6262.

“I will always put the health and safety of families across the state over the profits of greedy companies,” said Yingling. “This bill will bring the peace of mind back to the thousands of families near ethylene oxide emission points that they, their families, friends, and neighbors are not being poisoned each time they take a breath. I am very honored to be supporting this bill, and call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this essential piece of legislation.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After months of concerted legislative efforts, state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, saw her two landmark ethylene oxide measures signed into law by the governor on Friday.

“As a mom and as a Gurnee resident, the reports of carcinogenic toxins being released into our air is extremely upsetting. Ethylene oxide pollution is a matter of life and death that impacts nearly every resident in my district,” said Mason. “When reports were released showing hazardous levels of ethylene oxide in the air, I knew immediately that we needed to come up with a comprehensive legislative solution to the problem. I worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation that will serve as one step towards making our air clean and safe for all of our families.”

Both of Mason’s measures signed into law on Friday impose tighter restrictions on the amount of ethylene oxide sterilization and manufacturing facilities are allowed to emit into the air. Friday’s signing also coincides with the Lake County Health Department’s announcement of environmental test results showing elevated levels of ethylene oxide near Medline in Waukegan.

“Seeing these two bills become law has been one of the most fulfilling moments for me as a legislator,” said Mason. “I am proud to have passed measures that truly address the issue of ethylene oxide pollution in our community, and I will continue advancing legislation that prioritizes the health of our residents in every session to come.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Residents of Lake County will soon be able to breathe easier, thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1854, a measure sponsored by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, that cracks down on facilities that emit the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide. Senate Bill 1854 has passed both houses and now makes its way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

“For years, facilities that use ethylene oxide have been allowed to freely release it into our air under little to no scrutiny from regulatory bodies,” said Mason. “This legislation imposes much-needed regulations on these facilities by requiring them to submit to unannounced inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency, new caps on their emissions and regular ambient air quality testing.”

Ethylene oxide is a carcinogenic chemical commonly used for manufacturing or sterilization purposes in industrial factories. According to the U.S. EPA, exposure to ethylene oxide has been shown to cause types of lymphoma and leukemia in humans. To find additional information about Senate Bill 1854 or ethylene oxide, please contact Mason’s constituent service office by calling 847-485-9986 or emailing info@repjoycemason.com.

“Our residents should not have to fear for their health and the health of their children every time they walk outside and take a breath of air,” said Mason. “The passage of this measure means we are taking a strong stance against harmful polluters and prioritizing the health of our residents for generations to come.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As part of his continued efforts to address the ongoing crisis of carcinogenic ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions, state Rep. Dan Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, co-sponsored legislation to better regulate its use.

“It is unconscionable that polluters in Lake County have been let off the hook when they’re emitting a chemical known to cause cancer,” Didech said. “This legislation will help hold polluters accountable and make sure residents know whether their air is safe to breathe.” 

Didech co-sponsored House Bill 457, which would seek to crackdown on hazardous usage of EtO sterilization operations by requiring them to capture 100% of all emissions. The legislation also calls for increased testing and reporting of emissions to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. In the event emissions an EtO sterilization operation fails to demonstrate compliance by failing a test, the owner will be required to immediately cease operations.

“The Sterigenics situation in Willowbrook shows that there are not enough safeguards to protect the public from Ethylene Oxide,” Didech said. “This bill is a major step in making sure that the polluters in Lake County aren’t putting the health and safety of residents at risk. Reducing emissions and making notification mandatory is a huge step to keeping our community safe from pollution.”