Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • EPA Administrator
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History
    • Staff Directory
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide
Contact Us

Ardmore, Oklahoma (LEMCO Ardmore)

Sign up to Learn More

Join the EPA for a meeting about Ethylene Oxide (EtO) risk in Ardmore, OK on October 18, 2022 and learn about EPA’s action plan to address risks from commercial sterilizers

LEMCO Ardmore is located at 3204 Hale Road, Ardmore, OK. The facility uses ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical equipment and materials.

EPA scientists and analysts recently completed a risk assessment to understand the impact of EtO emissions from the LEMCO Ardmore facility. As part of this risk assessment, we used the most recent available information about how much EtO the company emits into the air and we modeled estimated cancer risks to people living nearby. The risk assessment identified elevated cancer risk in the Ardmore community. EPA is committed to working with state and local agencies, facilities, and communities to reduce this risk.

This risk information is current as of July 27, 2022. If EPA receives new data, we will update this information. The risk information is based on EPA’s latest modeling of EtO emissions from this facility. We are continuing to collect and verify information about this facility and its emissions. If there are updates to EtO emissions or the systems in place at the facility, there may be a resulting update to the risk information.

LEMCO Ardmore

This map shows EPA’s estimate of lifetime cancer risks from breathing ethylene oxide near Lemco, 3204 Hale Rd Ardmore, OK 73401. Estimated cancer risk decreases with distance from the facility. Nearest the facility the estimated lifetime cancer risk is 200 in a million. Risk drops to 100 in a million and extends from near Elks Blvd (Nth) to Rickets Ln (Sth). The area extends to Cypert Way (East) and Rickets Ln (SE), Hwy 77 (SW) and extends to the tree line located NW of the intersection of Hwy 70 and Hwy 77

This map shows EPA’s estimates of lifetime cancer risks from EtO near LEMCO Ardmore in Ardmore, OK. As you can see from the map risk decreases with distance from the facility. 

The area in blue shows estimated lifetime cancer risks of 100 in a million or greater from breathing air containing EtO emitted from the facility (or the same as 1 additional cancer case in 10,000 people). A lifetime cancer risk of 100 in a million means that, if 1 million people were exposed to this level of EtO in the air 24 hours a day for 70 years, 100 people would be expected to develop cancer from that exposure.  

The area in dark blue on the map shows that EtO exposure could contribute to a maximum increased risk level of 2 cancer cases if 10,000 people were exposed for 70 years (or 200 in 1 million). EPA cannot predict whether an individual person will develop cancer.

View a larger version of the map and legend in a new browser tab.

For this risk assessment, we looked at excess cancer risk attributable to a single chemical, EtO. This estimated risk is in addition to the risk of developing cancer from other causes. This is a worst-case scenario that assumes a person stays in the highest risk area 24 hours a day continuously for 70 years. EPA takes this approach because we want to be protective of the most exposed and most vulnerable individuals from risk associated with EtO emissions from this facility.

  • Read additional information on EtO, including information on our current understanding of risks from ethylene oxide.

Community Details

Site Overview:

Lemco is a small commercial sterilizer that has been in the business of Product Sterilization Service since 1990. At this facility, medical and cosmetic instruments are sterilized using ethylene oxide to eliminate microorganisms.

Technical Information:

The commercial sterilizer has 3 sterilization aeration chambers: a seven-pallet chamber, a five-pallet chamber, and a one-pallet chamber. Aeration chamber emissions are then sent to a wet acid scrubber. This facility has a general permit from Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) with maximum estimated stack emissions of 0.09 tons per year (tpy).

What EPA is Doing to Address Ethylene Oxide

Now: EPA is working with the State of Oklahoma to reduce emissions at LEMCO. EPA has provided technical support to our air agency partners as part of this work. The Agency is reviewing controls on regulated equipment and processes that emit EtO to determine whether additional air pollution controls are needed. This review includes examining new developments in practices, processes and control technologies, considering cost and feasibility, as well as addressing any previously unregulated emission points.

Soon: Later this year, EPA will propose strengthening current regulations for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers. EPA will consider risk as part of the proposed regulations.

  • Learn more about regulation for EtO Sterilization Facilities.  
  • For more information about actions you can take.

Register to Attend the Community Open House

An open house will take place on October 18, 2022, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, at the Ardmore Public Library (Smith Room) 320 E. St. NW Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401.

If you require special accommodations, including live translation into a language other than English or Spanish, please contact eto@epa.gov to make arrangements.

Note: EPA will use your registration information for this event and to send you information about upcoming EtO-related actions and activities. We will not share your information with any third party.

All registration fields are required.

English form

Attendee
  • Ethylene Oxide Home
  • Ethylene Oxide Outreach
  • Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Explained
    • Our Current Understanding
    • What EPA is Doing to Address EtO
    • Where to Learn More about EtO
  • Frequent Questions
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on October 13, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.