CARSON, Calif. (KNX) — Officials with the Air Quality Management District issued a notice of violation to Parter Sterilization Services in Carson for allegedly releasing toxic gas into the air, the department announced Friday.
"You mostly worry about the kids because they're outside trying to play, breathing this air," Leonardo Chiles said about his family's health after learning that AQMD had flagged the nearby business.
Chiles and his family live about a block from the company's location.
Officials said that Parter Sterilization Services has been releasing a toxic gas called ethylene oxide into the air at levels well above AQMD's threshold, which poses a health risk to the public.
"You worry about your head. I'm getting up in age, but my grandkids is what I really care about," Chiles told CBSLA.
Carson resident Ashley Perkins said the company needs to act responsibly.
"They're making money by being here, so they need to be more responsible," she said.
Air quality officials issued a notice of violation to the company after air samples showed high gas levels.
Hundreds of homes and even an elementary school are within 2,000 feet of the facility.
People exposed to ethylene oxide may experience headaches, nausea, and vomiting, among other symptoms, but long-term exposure to the gas can lead to cancer.
"There's a lot of ways for us to get exposed to cancer and long-term diseases, and I don't think that it's okay that these companies do this," Perkins told CBSLA.
The AQMD said it's working with the company to reduce emissions.
This incident is the second time Carson residents have dealt with breathing toxic air in almost a year. Last October, many residents were sickened by a poisonous odor from the Dominguez Channel, a stench linked to a nearby warehouse.
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