Background: In March 2019, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center asked ATSDR to assess if EtO in the air would pose a public health hazard to the Lake County community. Specifically, they asked ATSDR to review whether EtO levels in outdoor air around Medline Industries (Medline), a medical sterilization facility in Waukegan, Illinois, and Vantage Specialty Chemicals (Vantage), a chemical manufacturing plant in Gurnee, Illinois, pose a public health hazard to the Lake County community. Both facilities are in Lake County, about 3 miles from one another.

In 2024, ATSDR issued a draft health consultation for public comment based on EtO air sampling near Vantage from June 2019 to May 2020, near Medline from June 2019 to September 2023, and at background locations.

The draft version will be available for public comment from June 21, 2024, through August 5, 2024.

By participating in this comment writing session, you’ll help shape the conversation and ensure that our community's perspective is included in any future actions or policies. Let’s work together to create a safe and healthy environment for everyone!