EPA: Jackson Twp. plant poses cancer risk
American Contract Systems, a business with an plant in Jackson Township, is among companies in 13 states whose emissions of ethylene oxide pose a health risk to their communities, according to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The medical sterilization plant, located at Jackson’s Pointe Commerce Park, 4050 Jackson Pointe Court, could possibly affect people with emissions from ethylene oxide, according to EPA’s website.
A representative from the corporate office of American Contract Systems in Minnesota was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
“A lifetime cancer risk of 100 in a million means that, if 1 million people were exposed to this level of (ethylene oxide) in the air 24 hours a day for 70 years, 100 people would be expected to develop cancer from that exposure,” the EPA’s website said.
The Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents who live near medical sterilizing plants in those states and Puerto Rico about potential health risks from emissions of ethylene oxide, a chemical widely used in their operations.
Molly Miller, Eagle staff writer, contributed to this article.
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