Franklin, New Jersey (Cosmed Group Inc. (dba Cosmed of NJ)
August 2022 update: EPA has received additional information from the facility about updates made to its sterilization room and warehouse to reduce EtO emissions. As a result of changes made by the facility, the risk level for the facility has decreased.
Cosmed Group Inc. (dba Cosmed of NJ) is located at 19 Park Drive in Hardyston Township near the communities of Franklin Township and Hamburg Borough. 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 Cosmed Group Inc. (doing business as Cosmed of NJ) 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 Franklin 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.
Cosmed Group Inc. (dba Cosmed of NJ)
This map shows EPA’s estimates of lifetime cancer risks from EtO near Cosmed Group Inc. doing business as Cosmed of NJ in Franklin, NJ. 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.
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.
Community and Facility Details
The Cosmed of NJ facility located at 19 Park Drive in Franklin, NJ has been operating since 1997 to sterilize medical devices. The facility installed a catalytic oxidizer in 1997 to control emissions and is continuously monitoring emissions at the stack.
The facility is routing its emissions from the sterilization room to the catalytic oxidizer, which is used to treat and reduce emissions of air pollutants. The warehouse has also been reconfigured to only operate one fan to rebalance air flow and better control fugitive emissions (residual process emissions that are not directed to emission control devices). Furthermore, updated measurements at the facility indicate that fugitive emissions were lower than previously estimated. Cosmed of NJ is located in a light industrial, rural area located in Hardyston Township, north of Route 94 and Franklin Township.
What EPA is Doing to Address Ethylene Oxide
Now: EPA is working with the State of New Jersey to reduce emissions at Cosmed Group Inc. EPA has provided technical support to our air agency partners at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as part of this work. Cosmed Group acquired this medical device sterilization facility in 1997. 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.
Sign Up for Community Updates
EPA and Hardyston Township hosted a community meeting on September 20, 2022 for the Hardyston, Franklin, and Hamburg communities to learn more about EtO and risks from commercial sterilizers.
September 2022 Community Meeting Presentation Slides (pdf)
Community Flyer for Information Session (pdf)
All registration fields are required.