Attorney General Jay Jones announced on May 20 that he has joined a coalition of attorneys general in opposing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal to repeal national emission standards for ethylene oxide used by commercial sterilization facilities.
The issue is significant because, according to the EPA’s own assessment, ethylene oxide is recognized as a human carcinogen and one of the most toxic pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act. The coalition argues that removing these protections could put public health at risk, especially for vulnerable communities.
“The Commonwealth takes pride in being home to a diverse landscape and Virginians are united in our urgency to protect our air, land, and sea. This proposal puts the health of the people and our air in harm’s way,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “Virginians will not turn a blind eye as the Trump administration continues to ignore science and endanger the health of our communities. We urge the Trump administration and the EPA to keep this critical standard in place.”
In 2024, regulations on ethylene oxide were updated based on new scientific evidence showing greater harm from emissions than previously known. These updates required full capture of emissions at sterilizer facilities, major pollution reductions, and continuous monitoring. The current federal administration is proposing returning to older regulations instead.
Attorney General Jones and other members of the coalition argue that this move ignores decades of scientific progress regarding health risks from ethylene oxide exposure. Studies by researchers for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found increased rates of breast cancer and lymphomas among workers exposed at sterilizer facilities; follow-up studies linked higher exposure with three times higher breast cancer mortality rates compared with unexposed peers.
Short-term high-level exposure can cause neurological effects such as memory loss or dizziness along with respiratory or skin irritation; children are particularly vulnerable due to potential DNA mutations caused by exposure. Analysis from EPA also indicates commercial sterilizers emitting ethylene oxide disproportionately affect communities of color, low-income populations, and indigenous peoples.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul led this multi-state effort joined by attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont alongside Virginia.
The Attorney General of Virginia supports civil rights enforcement programs while providing legal counsel to state agencies across Virginia; it addresses issues like human trafficking through advocacy efforts while offering consumer protection resources including identity theft assistance according to its official website.
