Vernon, CA — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn to prohibit County departments from contracting with Sterigenics, a medical device sterilization company, while they continue to emit elevated levels of a dangerous carcinogen from their Vernon plant.

“Sterigenics is emitting dangerous levels of a cancer-causing chemical and is threatening the lives of workers,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I continue to urge the SCAQMD to shut this plant down until they lower these emissions, but we can exert our own pressure. Until they no longer pose a threat to workers and the community, this company is not going to get valuable Los Angeles County contracts.”

Los Angeles County has no existing contracts with Sterigenics US, Inc. Hahn’s motion, approved unanimously by the Board, directs that all County departments, to extent legally permissible and feasible, shall refrain from entering into any new or amended contracts to purchase goods or services from Sterigenics.

Read the full motion here: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/169900.pdf