Byron Donalds visits Fort Myers plant that released carcinogens for 12 years: What we know

Naples Congressman Byron Donalds got a look at new anti-pollution measures in a central Fort Myers plant that sent carcinogenic ethylene oxide into the air for 12 years, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

People near the American Contract Systems/LeeSar plant on Adelmo Lane between Metro Parkway and U.S. 41 could have increased lifetime risk of cancer due to the plant's high levels of ethylene oxide releases, the EPA said: the nearer the plant, the higher the risk.

In addition to homes and businesses in the emissions field, there are three schools: Evangelical Christian, Villas Elementary and Montessori School of Fort Myers. Though the agency warned nearby residents about the pollution with letters and town hall meeting, it left just days to make official comments to a set of proposed new rules about the substance, something Donalds took the agency to task for after citizens voiced concerns at his town hall meeting earlier this month.

More: 'No safe level': Fort Myers plant pollutes air with a carcinogenic chemical, EPA warns

That's fixed now, Donalds says. Earlier this month, the facility installed new scrubbers to remove more than 99% of ethylene oxide from the plant's previously unfiltered emissions. "The plant has done the work," he said, after touring the plant Friday afternoon, "and the (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and the EPA are confirming that's the case ... The plant is now in compliance with emissions standards set by the EPA. (After) my town hall, they reached out to my office once it was installed to see with my own eyes," he said. "I think that provides a level of comfort to members of our community."

Here's what we know about the Fort Myers company and its emissions:

What is the plant and what does it do?

The facility is a joint operation between Minnesota-based American Contract Systems and with health care supply chain management company LeeSar that has used odorless ethylene oxide gas to sterilize medical equipment for 12 years. The plant uses the substance to prepare equipment like surgical packs and dental equipment, but the potent substance can also damage DNA and cause cancer. Lymphoma and leukemia are the cancers most frequently associated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide, the National Cancer Institute reports. Stomach and breast cancers may also be associated with ethylene oxide exposure.

The company wanted it done earlier, but supply chain issues delayed the scrubbers

The medical sterilizer had intended to install the filtration system two years ago, Donalds said, but problems getting parts kept it from getting done. "They're taking this issue very, very seriously," he said. While the EPA has been regulating ethylene oxide emissions for 30 years, 2016 research showed it to be more toxic than previously believed, so the agency revised its position, hence the new rule-making.

What did Donalds see? Did he look up a chimney to check the devices?

“Oh, no I wouldn’t want to do that,” Donalds said with a laugh. “But in the plant, the staff are all in surgical scrubs … and the way the (sterilizing ethylene oxide) gas is injected, they have a steady pumping system off of the machines so it’s not just floating through the plant … I don’t want to reveal all their processes, but essentially what happens is a small amount is injected into a bag with the medical equipment. They store it in another heated chamber that allows for the gas essentially to be activated, then the heat runoff from that room goes through the scrubbers. It looks like AC ducting – tight metal ducting – that runs it through the scrubbers (which) have the different filters and mediums necessary. It comes through that and then that’s what’s released."

Florida officials have been watching the plant for years

Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Alexandra Kuchta says her agency has helped the EPA collect emissions data on the plant as well as Florida's five other commercial sterilization facilities. "As part of this information collecting process, DEP also conducted inspections at the facility to better understand facility operations and emission controls. These were in addition to DEP’s routine compliance inspections." Kuchta says the new scrubbers "reduce the (cancer) risk well below the threshold used in EPA’s modeling. With these new controls installed and operational, DEP anticipates that EPA will remodel this facility to confirm the reduced risk to the community."

She also points out that all six of the state's commercial sterilizers "have met and continue to meet all current federal air emissions standards and are in compliance with all conditions of their respective air operation permits."

More: 'Beyond troubling': EPA faces outrage over Fort Myers plant's cancer-causing pollution

What about people who’ve breathed this for the last 12 years without knowing about it?

Donalds says he's working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help people measure their past exposure.

“There are calls going on about that in particular right now with CDC and the (Florida) Department of Health trying to ascertain the next step,” Donalds said. ”I think there’s a blood test to determine your EtO levels .. I know CDC has done a cancer cluster screening of the area (and) as I understand, but its come back that there’s no discernable cancer cluster in the area,” he said. “We intend to continue to monitor the situation."

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 'A level of comfort' Byron Donalds sees new pollution controls in Fort Myers