California Opens Review of 2 Air Toxics With 10x Benzene Cancer Risk

3 articles · Updated · Courthouse News Service · May 14

California on Thursday released draft cancer-risk findings for acrolein and ethylene oxide, launching a public review that officials expect to take about a year before a scientific panel votes.
New monitoring data and research drove the draft values, with state officials saying both chemicals appear more carcinogenic than previously thought and carry more than 10 times benzene’s cancer risk.
Ethylene oxide has been measured at only 2 Southern California sites, underscoring the limited evidence base and the need to identify major sources such as sterilization uses, smoke, exhaust and wildfire pollution.
Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking $2.5 million in the revised 2026-27 budget for more testing and exposure-reduction work as the U.S. EPA moves to roll back ethylene oxide rules and revisit the science.
The first public comment period runs through June 29, followed by workshops, peer review and a second comment round as California pushes ahead with stricter air-toxics scrutiny.

When a life-saving chemical also causes cancer, how is an acceptable public health risk determined?

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