Ethylene Oxide Emissions In Memphis, Tennessee

In 2016, new scientific information revealed that ethylene oxide is 60 times more toxic than previously understood. As a result, sterilization facilities across the country began proactively adding new controls to reduce their ethylene oxide emissions.

But Sterilization Services of Tennessee, a company located in South Memphis, has refused to take any voluntary action to protect nearby residents. 

South Memphis is already overburdened by air pollution. The community has significantly lower life expectancies and their cancer risk is 4x the national average. We do not have time to wait. 

This comic story was created to urge Memphis residents and allies to contact the Shelby County Health Department. They must use their emergency powers under our local air pollution control law to order Sterilization Services of Tennessee to stop emitting ethylene oxide or to shut down its operation.