Athens, Texas (Steri-Tech, Inc.)
Steritec, Inc. is located at 1705 Enterprise Street, Athens, TX. The facility uses ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical equipment and materials.
EPA scientists and analysts recently completed a risk assessment to understand the impact of EtO emissions from the Steritec, Inc. facility. As part of this risk assessment, we used the most recent available information about how much EtO the company emits into the air and we modeled estimated cancer risks to people living nearby. The risk assessment identified elevated cancer risk in the Athens community. EPA is committed to working with state and local agencies, facilities, and communities to reduce this risk.
Steritec, Inc.
This map shows EPA’s estimates of lifetime cancer risks from EtO near Steritec, Inc. in Athens, TX. As you can see from the map risk decreases with distance from the facility.
The area in blue shows estimated lifetime cancer risks of 100 in a million or greater from breathing air containing EtO emitted from the facility (or the same as 1 additional cancer case in 10,000 people). A lifetime cancer risk of 100 in a million means that, if 1 million people were exposed to this level of EtO in the air 24 hours a day for 70 years, 100 people would be expected to develop cancer from that exposure.
The area in dark blue on the map shows that EtO exposure could contribute to a maximum increased risk level of 10 cancer cases if 10,000 people were exposed for 70 years (or 1,000 in 1 million). EPA cannot predict whether an individual person will develop cancer.
View a larger version of the map and legend in a new browser tab.
For this risk assessment, we looked at excess cancer risk attributable to a single chemical, EtO. This estimated risk is in addition to the risk of developing cancer from other causes. This is a worst-case scenario that assumes a person stays in the highest risk area 24 hours a day continuously for 70 years. EPA takes this approach because we want to be protective of the most exposed and most vulnerable individuals from risk associated with EtO emissions from this facility.
Community Details
Site Overview:
Operating since 1989, Steritec, Inc. is a medical device sterilization and biological testing company located in Athens, Texas. Steritec is a contract provider of 100% ethylene oxide sterilization and steam sterilization, and also supplies laboratory services. The facility is sized at 30,000 square feet and houses offices, steam and ethylene oxide sterilizers, and chemical and biological testing laboratories.
Technical Information:
Steritec operates four sterilizers with a total maximum annual ethylene oxide usage of 214,620 pounds per year. The facility operates a thermal oxidizer for control of its sterilization process emissions and is required to maintain a destruction efficiency of no less than 99%.
Permit Details and Additional Requirements:
Steritec’s permit from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) limits the amount of ethylene oxide that can be used hourly in each sterilizer. The facility was required to verify that it complied with its permit limits through initial compliance stack testing in 2013. The maximum allowable emission rate is 1.02 tons per year (tpy). Steritec is also required to supply the Athens Fire Department with their emergency plan, detailing all escape routes within the building, locations of the sprinkler system, safety showers, fire extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCUBA), and ethylene oxide storage and usage areas.
What EPA is Doing to Address Ethylene Oxide
Now: The Agency is reviewing controls on regulated equipment and processes that emit EtO to determine whether additional air pollution controls are needed. This review includes examining new developments in practices, processes and control technologies, considering cost and feasibility, as well as addressing any previously unregulated emission points.
Soon: Later this year, EPA will propose strengthening current regulations for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers. EPA will consider risk as part of the proposed regulations.
- Learn more about regulation for EtO Sterilization Facilities.
- For more information about actions you can take.