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EPA in Illinois
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Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility

On this page:

  • About the initial air monitoring
  • Initial air monitoring data and map
  • ATSDR analysis
  • About additional Willowbrook monitoring
  • Documents and outreach materials

This facility ceased operations on September 30, 2019


Sterigenics was a commercial sterilizer that used ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical equipment and other products in Willowbrook, Ill. It had been operating in Building 1 (7775 Quincy Street) since 1984 and in Building II (830 Midway) since 1999. The facility has not operated since the State of Illinois issued a seal order on February 15, 2019.  On September 30, 2019, Sterigenics announced that it would be discontinuing operations at the Willowbrook facility.

In 2018, U.S.EPA monitoring indicated that there were high concentration of EtO in the nearby air.  Prior to the shutdown, U.S. EPA worked with Illinois EPA and Sterigenics to address emissions of EtO from the facility. In July 2018, the company installed additional pollution controls to capture EtO emissions, and subsequently received a permit from Illinois EPA to install additional controls, before the company decided to discontinue operations in Willowbrook.

About the initial air monitoring

U.S. EPA conducted initial short-term canister air sampling for three days in mid-May 2018 near the Willowbrook facility to determine whether EtO could be detected using U.S. EPA’s Method TO-15 and what levels of EtO, if any, were present in the outdoor air.  While this method was capable of measuring EtO at the concentrations observed during EtO oxide at all levels that may present a long-term public health risk. 

 

For More Information

eto@epa.gov

Illinois EPA
Brad Frost
(brad.frost@illinois.gov)
217-782-7027

Lake County Environmental Health Department
847-377-8020
LCHD: Ethylene Oxide in Lake County

Initial air monitoring data and map

The link below provides a summary of EtO air samples collected during the initial short-term sampling in Willowbrook in May 2018. It also includes a map of each monitoring location.

Sterigenics Air Sampling Summary (pdf) (582.17 KB, May 16-18, 2018)

ATSDR Analysis

U.S. EPA asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to evaluate whether EtO air concentrations near Sterigenics pose a public health problem for people living and working in Willowbrook. ATDSR provided a response in a letter dated July 26, 2018.  ATSDR is still working on a revised public health consultation based on the additional monitoring data. 

ATSDR's July 2018 analysis (19 pp, 2 MB, About PDF)

About additional Willowbrook EtO air monitoring

U.S. EPA received a number of requests to conduct additional outdoor air quality air monitoring EtO in Willowbrook. While there were and still remain limitations to the ability of currently available monitoring instruments and techniques to measure EtO at all levels that may present a long-term public health risk, U.S.EPA conducted additional outdoor air quality monitoring.  Read the Quality Assurance Project Plan for Field Sampling Plan for Ambient Air EtO Monitoring near Sterigenics Facility, Willowbrook, IL

From November 2018 – March 2019, U.S.EPA monitored outdoor air near the Sterigenics facility to better understand the levels of EtO in the air. Learn more about U.S. EPA's outdoor air monitoring in the Willowbrook Community.

    Documents and Public Outreach Materials

    • Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility Documents
    • Correspondence related to Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility
    • Risk Assessment
    • Community Meeting Presentations
    • Response Updates from 2018-2019

    Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
    Last updated on May 17, 2023
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