Health Canada is reviewing the risks of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, but incomplete data and outdated regulations leave major gaps in understanding its emissions.
Leah Borts-Kuperman reports for The Narwhal.
In short:
- Ethylene oxide, widely used for medical sterilization, is toxic, yet Canada lacks national monitoring and enforceable emission limits.
- A Health Canada draft report suggests significant emissions may go unreported due to high reporting thresholds and poor industry compliance.
- Alberta is the largest contributor to ethylene oxide releases, with one facility in Red Deer responsible for over 65% of reported national use in 2022.
Key quote:
“We really don’t have any rules federally. We just have these guidelines that are 20 years out of date.”
— Elaine MacDonald, Ecojustice
Why this matters:
Ethylene oxide, a chemical widely used to sterilize medical equipment and manufacture consumer products, has been linked to serious health risks, including leukemia and breast cancer. Long-term exposure, even at low levels, is increasingly seen as a threat, yet Canada’s regulatory response remains sluggish compared to recent crackdowns in the United States. In the U.S., tighter controls have been put in place to limit emissions, following mounting evidence from environmental agencies and public health experts. But in Canada, the lack of strict enforcement or systematic tracking of emissions leaves communities vulnerable.
Read more: Sterigenics' move to Mississauga, Ontario, raises concerns about ethylene oxide emissions
