PROTECTING LIVES
Here & Across the Country
The Facts About Our Use of Ethylene Oxide
As noted by the FDA, for many medical devices, including ours, sterilization with ethylene oxide is the only method that effectively sterilizes and does not damage the device during the sterilization process.1
Our use of EtO is closely regulated by federal and state government agencies, and the emissions from our Allentown facility are far less than the amount allowed under our permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
As a result of voluntary steps we have taken beyond what is required by regulation, emissions of EtO from our Allentown facility have significantly declined in recent years.
For example, in 2020 we voluntarily installed a new emission control system that has demonstrated, during third-party testing, an EtO destruction and removal efficiency of more than 99.9% for the main sterilization process.
B. Braun Medical Inc. has been safely manufacturing high-quality medical devices in the Lehigh Valley for over 40 years.
Our dedication to safety and sustainability is evident in every product we produce and every patient touched by our medical devices.
It’s also clear in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of our employees, our neighbors, and our community.
- Our life-sustaining medical products are used to treat millions of patients in hospitals across the U.S.every year.
- The more than 2400 finished medical products we manufacture in Allentown are used in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and many other conditions.
- We are investing more than $175 million at our Allentown facility to expand our ability to serve healthcare providers and patients.
At B. Braun Medical, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees, our community, and the patients who depend on our products.
Health & Safety Come First
B. Braun Medical has a longstanding history of putting the health and safety of our employees and community first.
Our families live and work here. We would not operate our facility if we believed it created an unsafe environment for our employees or neighbors.
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1. FDA
2. EPA
4. AdvaMed
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Copyright ©2022 B. Braun Medical Inc.
EtO in the Atmosphere
Ethylene oxide is naturally present in the environment and is created by various sources, including plants and animals. The human body also converts ethylene to ethylene oxide and emits it during respiration.4
PA Department of Health Study
A May 2022 analysis by the Pennsylvania Department of Health concluded that there is “no consistent pattern of cancer incidence rates” among people living near B. Braun’s facility compared to people living in other areas of Pennsylvania.3
CLICK HERE for the complete report