Hanover Township officials are aware of Environmental Protection Agency concerns expressed about the release of ethylene oxide at B. Braun’s medical facility on Marcon Boulevard in the township.

In its statement, the township said it relies on the EPA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to monitor these emissions and ensure that B. Braun’s manufacturing plant is compliant with existing rules for release. The township has no ability to independently monitor these gases nor is it required to do so.

Ethylene oxide is a gas used to make everyday products and to sterilize medical and dental devices that cannot be sterilized using steam. Products made with ethylene oxide are upholstery, carpet fibers, plastics, PVC pipe and certain cosmetics. At B. Braun, ethylene oxide is used primarily for sterilizing medical devices.

According to a statement from B. Braun, “Neither the EPA nor the (state) DEP have raised any compliance concerns to B. Braun regarding our (ethylene oxide) emission levels. Through our efforts, ethylene oxide emissions from our facility at 901 Marcon Blvd., Allentown, have declined during the last several years.

“In fact, our reported emission levels have been less than 10 percent of those allowable under our air permit issued by the (state) DEP,” the B. Braun statement continued.

In fact, township officials are not aware of any reports by federal or state agencies indicating that B. Braun exceeded emissions allowed by federal and state standards.

The EPA has said B. Braun has not broken any laws regarding its ethylene oxide emissions.

Township officials met with B. Braun to discuss the concerns expressed by the EPA. B. Braun confirmed that it has always operated within regulatory limits for the release of ethylene oxide at its Hanover Township facility. Over the past three years, the company has taken steps to reduce the amount of ethylene oxide released and will continue to do so in the future.

“I am very concerned about the ethylene oxide emissions from the B. Braun plant on Marcon Boulevard, which is in my legislative district,” state Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-133rd, said. “The EPA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection need to look further into this to assure that our residents are not faced with a cancer risk due to the release of this chemical in the air.”

According to EPA data, short-term exposure to high concentrations can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and respiratory irritation. The Department of Labor, under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has a list of precautions and practices designed to reduce exposure.

The EPA classified ethylene oxide as a carcinogen in December 2016. Studies showed that workers exposed to ethylene oxide have an increased risk of cancer if exposed outside the recommended precautions for handling the gas. It has been linked to breast cancer and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the EPA, studies after 2016 show that ethylene may be a greater risk than previously thought.

There are medical tests to determine exposure to ethylene oxide. The tests are not designed for low-exposure levels because they are not sensitive enough.

“The safety and health of my constituents is my top priority, and I want to make sure that everything is being done to allow the residents of my district and beyond to breathe clean, unpolluted air,” McNeill said.

Based on available data, the EPA does not, according to its internal documents, expect that levels of air around any facilities to be high enough to cause immediate health effects. Specific testing results of air around B. Braun are available.

In the EPA release, B. Braun, in Hanover Township, was reported as the 12th highest polluter of ethylene oxide nationwide. No comparisons were provided to assess the data.