On March 17, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rescinding several ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards for commercial sterilizers it finalized in 2024. EtO is a flammable, colorless gas used to sterilize medical devices and some foods. It is a potent carcinogen when inhaled. Communities living near commercial sterilization facilities that use EtO — which are disproportionately low-income and communities of color — have suffered from a significantly higher rate of...