County Organizes Town Hall On Sterigenics EO Plant Emissions

SMYRNA, GA — Following a community meeting that filled a middle school gym and left dozens outside, Commissioner Bob Ott has moved a planned county meeting to a larger venue. The August 19 community meeting will be at the Cobb County Civic Center and start at 7 pm. Ott and Commissioner Lisa Cupid have fielded a flurry of questions about emissions from the Sterigenics facility in an industrial area off Atlanta Road. Ott says federal EPA officials will join those from the state Environmental Protection Division and the CDC to answer questions.

"Cobb County will also partner with Smyrna to do independent testing and monitoring in the area," said Ott. He expects to introduce an agenda item at the board's August 13 meeting.

State environmental officials say they have been working closely with Sterigenics to implement voluntary improvements in their control of ethylene oxide (EO) gas. The plant is located in an area where EPA officials have identified potentially greater cancer risks. The department said Sterigenics is in compliance with current federal requirements for control of EO emissions.

Sterigenics also says its facility is in compliance, and is taking voluntary steps to reduce ethylene oxide omissions. The company said EO "is a vital resource in the sterilization of medical products and devices. Our Atlanta facility sterilizes many products including surgical kits, radiological syringes, catheters, hospital gowns and IV administration sets which are essential in today’s hospitals. The same properties that make EO such an important resource for sterilization also require that it is controlled carefully."