By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lizzy Lawrence
Published on 2024-01-24 09:30:40
The toxic chemical used to sterilize half the medical devices in the U.S. has been deemed to cause cancer. After years of considering alternatives, the FDA has declared vaporized hydrogen peroxide as a safer gas capable of decontaminating devices.
This is a significant step towards moving the medical device industry away from the carcinogenic chemical, ethylene oxide. This decision coincides with the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to finalize restrictions on ethylene oxide in March, with medical device manufacturers given 18 months to comply.
However, environmental activists in communities where sterilizing facilities are located not only commend the EPA for limiting the use of the chemical but also urge the FDA to push device makers more firmly towards alternatives.
The FDA’s endorsement does not fully satisfy these activists’ demands, as it holds the perspective that device makers should be more aggressively directed towards safer methods of sterilization.
This issue has generated a lot of attention and discussion, with healthcare industry stakeholders and the general public voicing their concerns about the safety of medical devices and the chemicals used in their sterilization.
Overall, the recent FDA decision is a crucial step towards greater safety in the medical device industry, but it also highlights the need for further action and stricter regulations to ensure the health and well-being of patients and workers within the industry.
Read the original article on Africa Health News
