Earthjustice monitoring finds elevated ethylene oxide near Puerto Rico sterilizer

SALINAS, Puerto Rico — New air monitoring commissioned by Earthjustice found elevated levels of ethylene oxide (EtO), a cancer-causing chemical, in Salinas, Puerto Rico, the environmental group said, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks court approval of a settlement with sterilizer Steri-Tech, Inc.

The July 2026 monitoring detected EtO across the La Margarita and Brisas del Mar neighborhoods to the west and northwest of Steri-Tech. Concentrations measured downwind of the facility were substantially higher than those measured upwind, which Earthjustice said indicates that Steri-Tech's emissions contribute to elevated EtO levels in the surrounding community.

EPA, represented by the U.S. Department of Justice, sued Steri-Tech in federal court in June 2025, alleging the company violated federal and Puerto Rico law by failing to operate its air pollution control equipment, leading to unlawful EtO emissions. The proposed settlement, announced in September 2026, would require a 99.99% reduction of EtO from sterilization chamber vents, additional reporting and stipulated penalties. Earthjustice said the proposal does not require direct monitoring of EtO emissions or ambient air monitoring around the facility.