
Emerging Contaminants: Ethylene Oxide
From Environmental Law Explored: A Podcast SEERies by ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
August 15, 2025 · 30 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the implications of ethylene oxide as an emerging contaminant, focusing on its health risks and regulatory landscape.
In the second installment of our Emerging Contaminants series, we turn our attention to ethylene oxide, a chemical critical to the sterilization of medical and protective equipment yet increasingly scrutinized for its potential carcinogenic effects due to widespread use and long industrial history. In this episode, we're joined by Rebecca Pritchett (Maynard Nexsen), Heather Lynch (Integral Consulting), and David Fusco (K&L Gates) to examine the latest developments in ethylene oxide science, regulation, and litigation. Our guests discuss recent findings and interpretations suggesting that human health risks from ethylene oxide exposure may be lower than previously thought—a perspective that continues to generate scientific, legal, and policy debate.
People in this episode
Guests: Rebecca Pritchett, Heather Lynch, David Fusco
Topics covered
- emerging contaminants
- ethylene oxide
- carcinogenic effects
- medical sterilization
- regulation
- litigation
Keywords
- ethylene oxide
- emerging contaminants
- carcinogenic
- medical equipment
- regulation
- litigation
- health risks
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Maynard Nexsen, Integral Consulting, K&L Gates
Products: ethylene oxide
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