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Emergency Team Dispatched To Sterigenics Plant In Cobb
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An emergency response team was dispatched Tuesday to the Sterigenics plant in Cobb County to investigate reports of a toxic gas leak that forced employees to evacuate the facility last month.
The gas leak occurred in the early morning of July 31, just hours after a community meeting was held to address emissions concerns in Smyrna, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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The facility uses the carcinogenic gas ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment.
Sterigenics said the leak was below the required reportable amount to the Environmental Protection Division.
The company released the following statement:
“Although this release was below the level required to be reported to the EPD, Sterigenics took immediate corrective actions to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.”
The EPD is investigating this recent incident and said it will determine the appropriate next steps.
Several community organizations and lawmakers have called for Gov. Brian Kemp to shut down the facility.
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