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Grantees uncover toxic supply chain in dozens of U.S. cities, zeroing in on impact in El Paso, Texas

A residential neighborhood abuts Cardinal Health's warehouse in east El Paso. Residents are unaware of the facility's ethylene oxide emissions. Ivan Pierre Aguirre / Grist

Dozens of warehouses across the country store medical devices sterilized with ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical – and the facilities are often near homes and schools, where people are unaware of the hazards – according to a new investigation co-published by Grist and El Paso Matters. With support from the Fund, Naveena Sadasivam and Lylla Younes staked out warehouses in multiple states, filed multiple records requests, and spoke with warehouse workers and local residents in El Paso. What they uncovered is a problem that one expert said is “much bigger than we all assume,” exacerbated by a lack of transparency for workers and residents who are routinely exposed to toxins.