State OKs New Plan To Cut Pollution At Smyrna Sterilizing Plant

State regulators also said Friday the federal EPA is working to develop “a better understanding of ethylene oxide and propose regulatory updates for medical sterilizers.’’

Nick Nesmith / WABE

Brenda Goodman is a senior news writer for WebMD. Andy Miller is editor and CEO of Georgia Health News.

State regulators Friday announced swift approval of plans by a medical device sterilizing company to implement pollution-reduction changes at its Smyrna facility.

Sterigenics said earlier this week that it had just submitted an application for a permit for the proposed facility changes. The company has been the target of protests from Smyrna-area residents concerned about the use of a cancer-causing gas, ethylene oxide, in its sterilization process.