FAQ's

What is ethylene oxide and how is it used?

Ethylene oxide (EtO or EO) is a colorless, flammable, naturally occurring chemical. EtO is used to produce a broad range of consumer goods such as shampoo, textiles, spices, cosmetics, and anti-freeze, to name a few. In the healthcare industry, EtO is also used to sterilize medical devices that help keep patients safe from infections and keep their hospital stay shortlived. Organ transplants, open-heart surgeries, knee replacements, dialysis, and C-sections, among others, all depend on sterilization through EtO to keep patients safe and deliver healthcare quality.

Is EtO safe?

EtO is regulated at the federal and state levels to ensure its usage and emissions are safe. Moreover, the US EPA considers EtO critical for sterilizing medical equipment and necessary to protect human health. While there are a wide variety of sources of EtO – including school buses, charcoal grills, gas generators, and even the human body – EtO is present in background levels, and in low concentrations, studies show there is no correlation with cancer risk.

How are patients kept safe through EtO sterilization?

When medical devices are sterilized with EtO, harmful pathogens that lead to infection and/or death in the hospital setting, are eliminated. According to estimates by the CDC, 1 in 25 patients in the nation contract a healthcare-associated infection annually, a leading cause of death. Without proven sterilization methods like EtO, hospitals would be forced to delay or cancel the most common medical procedures to invasive surgeries because of a shortage of effectively sterilized medical devices out of rightful concern for the spread of infections.

Why is there concern over EtO right now?

In December 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed the estimates in its risk model associated with EtO. The EPA is in the process of finalizing rulemaking, expected in summer of 2022, and Midwest expects to remain in compliance.

What does Midwest do and how does it use EtO?

Midwest receives medical devices direct from manufacturers and sterilizes the product to eliminate harmful pathogens at which time the sterilized product is ready for shipment to hospitals for use with patients. The use of EtO is regulated, tested, and audited by federal and state regulatory agencies, international nonprofit certifiers, as well as by customers. Midwest’s Laredo facility sterilizes approximately 80 million surgical kits annually, or about 2 of every 5 surgical kit in the nation.

Why do we use EtO to sterilize medical devices and equipment?

EtO is an FDA-approved, scientifically proven, and well-established method for sterilization. For many medical devices and equipment, no viable and proven alternative method exists and EtO is the only option to ensure effective sterilization. In fact, more than 20 billion devices sold in the U.S. annually are sterilized with EtO accounting for more than half of all devices requiring sterilization.

Is Midwest doing anything to reduce its EtO emissions?

Yes, Midwest is always reviewing operations to identify areas of continuous improvement. In fact, Midwest voluntarily implemented an emissions control system that eliminates 99.99 percent of primary EtO emissions, significantly better than what the Clean Air Act requires. Overall, Midwest has reduced EtO emissions by an additional 90 percent since 2019.

What is Midwest’s economic impact on the Laredo area?

Midwest remains a major employer in Laredo providing 150 jobs and a payroll of $4.8 million in 2021. Midwest also paid out more than $1.1 million to contractors and suppliers in 2021. Beyond its economic impact, Midwest also gave more than $146,000 to nonprofits including the Bethany House of Laredo, Habitat for Humanity, and the Laredo Regional Food Bank, among others.