ATLANTA – State Representative Erick Allen (D-Smyrna) and State Senator Jen Jordan (D-Atlanta) will hold a press conference TODAY, Monday, August 19, 2019, immediately following the Cobb County’s Public Meeting on Ethylene Oxide, which will be held from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta. The press conference will take place outside of the civic center at the conclusion of the public meeting.
Rep. Allen and Sen. Jordan recently called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and Governor Brian Kemp to conduct independent testing and halt operations of the Sterigenics plant in Smyrna until more is known about the levels of ethylene oxide being emitted at the facility.
Rep. Allen and Sen. Jordan today issued the following statement regarding their recent efforts and tonight’s meeting:
“Sterigenics, a medical company with facilities located around the country, uses the chemical Ethylene Oxide to sterilize medical equipment. Ethylene Oxide (EtO) is a chemical so noxious that, when blasted in the direction of medical equipment wrapped in plastic and/or cardboard, it permeates the packaging and completely sterilizes the syringes, catheters, IVs and other tools. This gas, like any other gas, is emitted into the air surrounding the plant.
“In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed EtO’s classification from ‘possible carcinogen’ to ‘definite carcinogen,’ as it causes multiple types of cancers with its toxicity (notably breast cancer, stomach cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma). Neither the EPA nor the EPD notified the community of this change and Sterigenics has continued to operate using EtO in a densely populated area.
“In July 2018, news broke that residents of Cobb, Fulton and Newton counties have been living in areas that have the highest concentrations of the U.S. The EPD, which is under the office of the governor, had known of this contamination for almost a full year and chose not to notify the community.
“This evening the EPA and the EPD will appear at a community meeting at the Cobb Civic Center in Marietta. At this point in time, it is unclear what the focus of their presentation will be. Because of that, we will be holding a press conference immediately following the meeting tonight to respond, outside of the Civic Center.”
WHO: Rep. Erick Allen (D-Smyrna)
Sen. Jordan (D-Atlanta)
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Monday, August 19, 2019
9:00 p.m. (or upon adjournment of Cobb County’s Public Meeting on Ethylene Oxide)
WHERE: Cobb County Civic Center
548 South Marietta Pkwy SE
Marietta, GA 30060
Representative Erick Allen represents the citizens of District 40, which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Banks & Banking, Code Revision and Human Relations & Aging Committees.
Sen. Jen Jordan serves as Chair of the Special Judiciary Committee. She represents the 6th Senate District which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. She may be reached at 404.656.6446 or via email at jennifer.jordan@senate.ga.gov.
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For Immediate Release:
August 19, 2019
Elisabeth Fletcher, Communications Specialist
elisabeth.fletcher@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028