The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted new regulations on Tuesday aimed at safeguarding communities residing near over 200 manufacturing plants emitting harmful airborne toxins like ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, vinyl chloride, 1,3 butadiene, and ethylene dichloride.
EPA studies reveal that approximately 104,000 Americans reside within 6 miles of these factories, facing a cancer risk exceeding 1 in 10,000 people—an alarmingly high threshold according to the agency. Moreover, research indicates that individuals living near industrial chemical producers are disproportionately impoverished and more likely to be Black or brown compared to the general population.
The new rule aims to slash hazardous pollutant emissions by roughly 6,200 pounds, thereby significantly reducing cancer risks associated with airborne pollutants. EPA Administrator Michael Regan highlighted that this rule alone would cut the cancer risk for affected communities by 96%.
In a significant victory for environmental advocates, the rule mandates air monitoring at the perimeter, or fenceline, of the property. This measure ensures companies promptly detect and address hazardous air pollutant leaks from their facilities. Patrice Simms, vice president for healthy communities at Earthjustice, emphasized the life-threatening implications, including neurological impairment and respiratory diseases, underscoring the urgency of these regulations.
This rule marks only the second instance where the EPA has required companies to monitor air for chemicals at their fencelines. The agency has extended the deadline for compliance to two years, acknowledging the need for adequate time to implement the monitoring systems. However, neoprene manufacturing facilities, which release cancer-causing chloroprene, are required to comply within 90 days.
Notably, these regulations target areas like Denka Performance Elastomer plant in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” where EPA findings revealed alarmingly high cancer risks attributed to emissions.
EPA’s Regan emphasized that the new rules would significantly reduce emissions of ethylene oxide and chloroprene by over 80%. This initiative follows recent stricter regulations for facilities employing ethylene oxide gas for sterilization, with ongoing EPA research exploring additional measures to control ethylene oxide exposure.
The EPA also continues to study methods to control other sources of ethylene oxide exposure, such as off-gassing from warehouses storing sterilized products, underscoring its commitment to public health and environmental protection.
