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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) sent a letter to Cardinal Health CEO Jason Hollar expressing her concern about toxic ambient air emissions at two Cardinal Health warehouses in El Paso following the publication of investigations by Grist and El Paso Matters.

The letter can be found in its entirety below and here.

Dear Mr. Hollar,

I am writing to express my concern about toxic ambient air emissions at two Cardinal Health warehouses in El Paso. Grist and El Paso Matters recently published articles with alarming information about the impact these emissions are having on my constituents. The two warehouses identified in the articles are located at 1 Butterfield Trail and 1320 Don Haskins Drive, and according to the Grist investigation are storing sterilized medical equipment that emits a high level of ethylene oxide (EtO). The emissions expose employees who work in these warehouses as well as potentially hundreds of thousands of El Pasoans. 

According to Grist and El Paso Matters, 603,000 El Paso residents -- about 90 percent of the city’s population -- are exposed to a cancer risk above 1 in 1 million from one of Cardinal Health’s two warehouses. Residents who live behind the Don Haskins warehouse have a more direct risk: emissions that result in a cancer risk of 2 in 10,000 (the Environmental Protection Agency’s acceptable risk is 1 in 10,000). El Pasoans who live near the Don Haskins facility and were interviewed for these articles shared that they are dealing with symptoms like headaches and respiratory irritation. Cardinal Health employees informed my team that EtO monitors are placed in the docking area of your warehouses but acknowledged there are no monitors in the office areas in the same building, let alone monitoring in the surrounding neighborhood. While I understand the EPA does have a rule regulating EtO emissions from sterilization plants, these regulations do not currently cover off-site warehouses. This leaves communities like El Paso particularly vulnerable. We know exposure can lead to breast cancer, lymphoma, and respiratory problems. Given the community concern and public reporting, it’s disappointing that Cardinal Health has not provided comment in response to questions from El Paso Matters, nor has the company engaged in a dialogue with El Pasoans about what the company is doing to address these concerns. El Pasoans deserve transparency and a plan for engagement from Cardinal Health. 

While there is technology available to reduce nearly 99% of EtO emissions, Cardinal Health allegedly claimed the technology was “cost excessive” for at least one of its warehouses. 

As you may be aware, members of my staff met with the Cardinal Health government relations team on October 23, 2025, to address remaining concerns, and there were several follow-up items we have yet to receive a response to. I hope Cardinal Health will consider providing answers to our questions as soon as possible. 

1. What protective measures are taken for drivers and employees who unload medical devices containing EtO? 
2. Does Cardinal Health have any plans to adopt emission control technologies to reduce the levels of EtO in your El Paso facilities? 
3. Does Cardinal Health intend to do public outreach with local residents about potential health risks? 
4. How often are safety audits or exposure monitoring conducted at the El Paso facilities? 
5. Have any current employees reported symptoms consistent with EtO exposure, such as headaches, nausea, or respiratory irritation? 
6. What measures does Cardinal Health take to prevent EtO build up in enclosed spaces such as trucks, or storage units? 
7. What safety protocols are in place at your El Paso facilities to protect all workers from EtO exposure? 
8. What type of EtO safety training do employees receive and how often do they receive this training? 
9. Does Cardinal Health’s have a long-term plan for community engagement?