Congressman Questions Why Residents Weren't Told of Carcinogenic Chemical in the Community; What Steps Are Being Taken for Remediation

Question

Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Jr. Johnson (D-GA) News Release

U.S. House of Representatives Documents

COVINGTON, GA - Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today sent letters to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) demanding answers as to why his constituents in Covington were not informed about a dangerous chemical being released into the community's air and asking what the environmental protection agencies are doing to protect the people who live near the plant that is discharging the carcinogenic chemical.

The letters reference reports that the BD Bard plant in Covington, which sterilizes medical equipment, is releasing ethylene oxide - a chemical the EPA says causes cancer. Concentrations of ethylene oxide in neighborhoods around the Covington plant range from 17 to 97 times the acceptable area concentration or AAC.

Although both the EPA and state EPD have known the chemical to be dangerous since 2016, neither agency informed the public.

Rep. Johnson said that's unacceptable and independent testing of the air in and around the plant should be conducted as the only data on emissions of the chemical is self-reported by the plant. No air testing is currently being done near the Covington plant.

In his letters to the EPA and EPD, Johnson wrote: "Despite EPA's knowledge of the significant danger ethylene oxide poses, the agency has seemingly failed to mitigate the release of the toxin. Moreover, the EPA has not issued any press releases about these findings notifying residents living within exposed areas -- failing to even notify families and communities that the very air they breathe could be poisonous. Only through diligent reporting did citizens learn of the potential peril from a carcinogenic in the air, information that the EPA held for two years. This lack of action is contrary to the EPA's mission to ensure Americans have clean air and healthy living conditions."

To read the EPA letter, go to: Both letters are also below.

Director Richard Dunn

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Environmental Protection Division

2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.

Suite 1456, East Tower

Atlanta, GA 30334

August 9, 2019

Director Dunn,

I write to express my concerns regarding commercial ethylene oxide emissions and the public health risk they present. I request the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) respond to my questions below within 30 days, detailing their plans to mitigate exposure to ethylene oxide and to prevent further harm caused by emissions.

Ethylene oxide is a colorless, odorless chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially classified as a carcinogenic. It is most frequently used to sterilize medical devices and produces a cancer-causing gas emission that pollutes the air, threatening families, neighborhoods, and communities surrounding commercial plants.

In December 2016, the EPA published the results of a 10-year study officially classifying ethylene oxide as a harmful carcinogenic air pollutant. It concluded that humans exposed to ethylene oxide for long periods are at increased risk of contracting leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancers.

The National Air Toxics Assessment indicated census tracts where airborne toxins, like ethylene oxide, contribute to higher rates of cancer. This study stipulated that half a million people live in tracts with identifiable increased cancer rates, largely due to ethylene oxide. Three Georgia census tracts were identified, including a town in Covington -- part of the 4th District of Georgia, where ethylene oxide concentration is 17 to 97 times higher than the state's acceptable area concentration (AAC).

In its mission statement, the Georgia EPD commits itself to proactively protecting human health and the environment. It also states that public involvement, consultation, and collaboration are vital to its mission. Despite these serious concerns, and in direct conflict with their stated mission, the Georgia EPD failed to alert citizens of the dangerous toxins in the air or notify them of the carcinogenic emissions. In fact, the Chief Air Pollutant officer at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, (EDP) Karen Hays, said the department has no current plans to test the air quality surrounding the plant. In the wake of Georgia EPD's response to this crisis, I request answers to the following questions.

* Will you commit to creating a specific health investigation of the Georgia communities that are at risk?

* Why did your department decide to not pursue further testing of the air in affected communities?

* According to the 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment study, the Covington area experiences 214 cases of cancer per million people exposed. Officially, the EPA considers the cancer risk from pollution unacceptable when it exceeds 100 cases per every million people. In the face of this data, how could the EPD consider the ethylene oxide emissions safe and permit their continued release into the air?

* Will you partner with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Center for Disease Control in Georgia to monitor the ambient air quality in Covington, analyze the increased health risks, and develop methods of mitigating risks for the affected communities?

* Do you intend to maintain the permit, which currently allows Becton Dickinson to emit a toxic carcinogenic?

* Do you plan to implement new, stricter standards to reduce carcinogenic air pollutants, specifically ethylene oxide?

As a Member of Congress, I prioritize the safety of my constituents. My district is directly affected by the release of toxic cancer-causing levels of ethylene oxide, and I am committed to ensuring that the mistakes made here are not further perpetuated. I request a response to these questions within thirty days and thank you for your attention to these pressing issues.

Sincerely,

Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Member of Congress

EPA Letter

Director Andrew Wheeler

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of the Administrator 1101A

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460

August 12, 2019

Dear Administrator Wheeler,

We write to express our concerns regarding commercial ethylene oxide emissions and the public health risk they present. We request the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) respond to our questions below within thirty days, detailing their plans to mitigate exposure to ethylene oxide and to prevent further harm caused by emissions.

Ethylene oxide is a colorless, odorless chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially classified as a carcinogenic. It is most frequently used to sterilize medical devices and produces a gas emission that pollutes the air, threatening families, neighborhoods, and communities surrounding commercial plants.

In December 2016, the EPA published the results of a ten-year study officially classifying ethylene oxide as a harmful carcinogenic air pollutant. It concluded that humans exposed to ethylene oxide for long periods of time are at increased risk of contracting leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancers.

Another EPA study, the National Air Toxics Assessment, indicated census tracts where airborne toxins, like ethylene oxide, contribute to higher rates of cancer. This study stipulated that half a million people live in tracts with identifiable increased cancer rates, largely due to ethylene oxide. Three Georgia census tracts were identified, including Covington--part of the 4th District of Georgia, where ethylene oxide concentration is 17 to 97 times higher than the state's acceptable area concentration (AAC).

Despite EPA's knowledge of the significant danger ethylene oxide poses, the agency has seemingly failed to mitigate the release of the toxin. Moreover, the EPA has not issued any press releases about these findings notifying residents living within exposed areas - failing to even notify families and communities that the very air they breathe could be poisonous. Only through diligent reporting did citizens learn of the potential peril from a carcinogenic in the air, information that the EPA held for two years. This lack of action is contrary to the EPA's mission to ensure Americans have clean air and healthy living conditions.

In order to fully understand the lack of oversight on this issue, we request the answers to the following questions:

* How long did the EPA know about the toxicity of ethylene oxide and the areas most affected by it?

* Why did the agency neglect to inform residents of the increased danger of the air in their communities? In light of these concerns are you planning to issue a press release?

* Will you commit to partnering with an independent air testing team to identify ethylene oxide emissions in the 109 census tracts identified as having increased carcinogenic air pollutants?

* Do you plan to impose new rules on sterilizing plants that release ethylene oxide emissions?

* What are the EPA's further plans to regulate the toxin?

* Does the EPA have plans to remediate this problem? What next steps will the agency take?

* What can the EPA do to ensure that this problem will not reoccur in the future?

As Members of Congress we prioritize the safety of our constituents. Some of our districts are directly affected by the release of toxic cancer-causing levels of ethylene oxide, and we are committed to ensuring that the mistakes made here are not further perpetuated. We request a response to these questions within thirty days and thank you for your attention to these pressing issues.

Sincerely,

Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. Rep. Lucy McBath

Member of Congress Member of Congress

Rep. Susan Wild Rep. David Scott

Member of Congress Member of Congress

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Member of Congress
This week, you will create a research reading journal including at least three high-quality sources related to the topic of your Solving a Problem in Your Community Essay. To make sure you are on the right track, for post 1 by Wednesday, share one of your journal entries with the class.

It should include the following information.

Your topic
Your thesis
The APA-style reference of one source
A summary of that source
An evaluation of that source
A direct quotation from that source
A paraphrase of that quotation
An analysis of that quotation
An application of that quotation (in other words, where in the essay it will be used)
This video provides tips on how to create the Research Reading Journal.

Answer 1

Research Reading Journal Entry

Your Topic:
The Impact of Ethylene Oxide Emissions from the BD Bard Plant on Public Health in Covington, Georgia.

Your Thesis:
The release of ethylene oxide from the BD Bard plant in Covington, Georgia, poses a significant public health risk due to its carcinogenic properties, and both the EPA and state environmental agencies have failed to adequately inform the residents and mitigate exposure, necessitating immediate remediation and increased oversight.

APA-style Reference of One Source:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2019). Updated Risk Assessment for Ethylene Oxide. Retrieved from EPA Website.

Summary of That Source:
The EPA’s updated risk assessment outlines the carcinogenic effects of ethylene oxide, confirming its classification as a harmful air pollutant. It highlights that long-term exposure increases the risks of several types of cancer and notes significant ethylene oxide concentrations in specific regions, including Covington, Georgia.

Evaluation of That Source:
The EPA is a highly credible source for information on environmental hazards, given its governmental authority and scientific backing. The data presented in this assessment is based on extensive research and is critical for understanding the risks associated with ethylene oxide. However, the agency’s delayed response and failure to communicate risks to affected communities raises concerns about its overall commitment to public health.

Direct Quotation from That Source:
“The exposure to ethylene oxide has been linked to increased risks of leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancers in individuals with long-term exposure.”

Paraphrase of that Quotation:
Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide is associated with a heightened risk of developing certain cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer.

Analysis of that Quotation:
This quotation underscores the severe health risks posed by ethylene oxide, establishing a direct link between the chemical's emissions and serious cancer risks. It supports my argument that the residents of Covington are living in an environment that significantly endangers their health, which strengthens the need for urgent action and remediation.

Application of that Quotation:
This quotation will be utilized in the section of my essay discussing the health implications of ethylene oxide emissions. It will serve as evidence to support the argument regarding the urgent need for public notification and intervention from the appropriate agencies, reinforcing the call for independent air quality testing and health investigations in the affected areas.

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This format provides a comprehensive view of one selected source that will bolster the arguments made in your essay, addressing the pressing community health issue emanating from the BD Bard plant's operations. Ensure to incorporate additional sources following a similar structure for a well-rounded research reading journal.