Ethylene Oxide Cases – USA Assistance Team

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Eligible Victims Who Have Developed Breast Cancer, Lymphatic Leukemia, Or Other Certain Condition May Be Able To Receive Justice And Compensation

Who May Be Eligible To File a Claim For Compensation?

Those who have worked or lived near a plant where EtO was used to sterilize medical equipment or other products
Nurses who worked in Hospitals and regularly sterilized medical equipment
Truck drivers who transported medical equipment
Warehouse Workers who stored medical equipment

Ethylene Oxide (Eto) Used In Sterilizing Medical Equipment Has Been Linked To Breast Cancer, Lymphatic Leukemia & Birth Defects. Those Affected Can Seek Justice And Compensation.

Ethylene oxide, a common chemical used to sterilize medical equipment and manufacture consumer products, has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. According to the EPA, over 100 sterilization facilities across the U.S. may have exposed nearby communities to dangerous levels of this carcinogenic compound. If you have lived or worked near a sterilization facility that used ethylene oxide (EtO) and developed cancer, you could be entitled to compensation.

Understanding Ethylene Oxide (EtO)

Ethylene oxide is a colorless, flammable gas used in various commercial applications. Due to its antimicrobial properties, it is essential for sterilizing products that cannot undergo traditional steam sterilization. However, prolonged exposure to EtO emissions can pose severe health risks, and it is the duty of companies that utilize EtO to prevent harmful emissions from affecting their workers and the surrounding communities.

EPA Findings: The Link Between Ethylene Oxide and Cancer

In 2020, the EPA released Draft Risk findings indicating that inhaling EtO over an extended period significantly increases the risk of developing certain cancers, including:

Breast Cancer
Lymphatic Leukemia
NHL
Myeloma
Other blood cancers
Birth defects
Miscarriage
Reproductive organ cancer (Ovarian, Testicular)
Rare Childhood cancers

The EPA emphasized that children are particularly vulnerable to EtO exposure, and long-term health impacts could emerge later in life.

U.S. Sterilization Facilities with Hazardous EtO Emissions and Associated Legal Actions

In July 2022, the EPA evaluated cancer risks associated with ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from approximately 100 commercial sterilization facilities in the U.S. The focus was on the impact of inhaling EtO-contaminated air over a lifetime.

Facilities with Elevated Cancer Risks

The EPA identified 23 sterilization facilities with EtO emissions linked to an increased risk of cancer for nearby residents, described as “elevated cancer risk at or above 100 additional cases per million people exposed.”

These high-risk facilities include:

Ardmore, OK: LEMCO Ardmore
Athens, TX: Steritec, Inc.
Añasco, PR: Edwards Lifesciences
Columbus, NE: Becton Dickinson Pharmaceutical Systems
Erie, PA: Cosmed Group LLC/Erie
Farjado, PR: Customed, Inc.
Franklin, NJ: Cosmed Group Inc. (Cosmed of NJ)
Groveland, FL: International Sterilization Laboratory
Hanover, MD: Elite Spice, Inc.
Henrico, VA: Sterilization Services of Virginia
Jackson, MO: Midwest Sterilization Corporation
Jessup, MD: Elite Spice, Inc.
Lakewood, CO: Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc.
Laredo, TX: Midwest Sterilization Corporation
Linden, NJ: ETO Sterilization-Plant #2 (Cosmed)
Memphis, TN: Sterilization Services
New Tazewell, TN: DeRoyal Industries
Salinas, PR: Steri-Tech, Inc.
Salisbury, MD: Trinity Sterile, Inc.
Sandy, UT: BD Medical
Taunton, MA: Professional Contract Sterilization, Inc. (PCS)
Villalba, PR: Medtronic PR Operation Co.
Zelienople, PA: American Contract Systems Inc.

Companies with Multiple Facilities on the EPA List

Regulatory Actions and Legal Cases

Numerous facilities have faced legal and regulatory actions due to EtO emissions and their health impacts. Some notable cases include:

Facilities with Regulatory Violations

Cosmed: In 2005, paid $1.5 million for failing to report and control EtO emissions at multiple locations between 1998 and 2003.

Facilities Temporarily or Permanently Closed

Medline Industries, Waukegan, IL: Voluntarily shut down in 2019 to comply with new emissions standards.
Sterigenics, Atlanta, GA: Temporarily closed in 2019 for emission reduction construction.
Sterigenics, Willowbrook, IL: Permanently closed in 2019 following regulatory actions and public outcry.

Civil Lawsuits and High-Profile Actions Related to Ethylene Oxide Emissions

B.Braun Med Inc, Allentown, PA: In February 2022, around three dozen individuals filed lawsuits against the B.Braun facility, alleging they developed leukemia and other cancers after living or working near the plant.
Baxter International, Mountain Home, AR: In 2021, Baxter Healthcare Corp reached a confidential settlement with plaintiffs who claimed harm from EtO emissions at its Arkansas facility, which had the third-highest EtO emissions in 2020.
BD (Becton Dickinson) and Sterigenics, Georgia: In 2020, multiple lawsuits were initiated against BD in Covington and Sterigenics in Cobb County. Plaintiffs alleged they developed breast or blood cancers due to emissions from these sterilization plants.
KPR (Kendall Patient Recovery), Augusta, GA: In 2021, over twenty lawsuits were filed against the KPR plant, with claims of cancer and miscarriages from individuals who lived or worked within a five-mile radius of the facility.
Sterigenics, Santa Teresa, NM: In January 2021, the New Mexico Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Sterigenics, citing increased cancer risks for residents due to EtO emissions from the Santa Teresa facility.
Sterigenics, Vernon, CA: In August 2022, local officials, including the Los Angeles County Supervisor, called for the closure of the Sterigenics plant in Vernon after the South Coast Air Quality Management District labeled it a “high-risk” facility.
Sterigenics, Willowbrook, IL: In September 2022, a jury awarded $363 million in damages to a woman who developed breast cancer after living near the Willowbrook facility. Over 700 lawsuits have been filed against Sterigenics following an EPA report indicating residents within 1.5 miles of the plant were ten times more likely to develop cancer.
Terumo BCT Facility, Lakewood, CO: By 2022, at least a dozen lawsuits were pending against the Terumo BCT plant due to its EtO emissions. A trial involving twelve plaintiffs is set for July 2023.

The EPA's website comprehensively lists all commercial sterilization facilities and their emissions. This list includes nearly 100 facilities in 32 states and Puerto Rico, underscoring the widespread concern over EtO emissions and their potential health impacts.

Can You File an EtO Exposure Lawsuit?

You may have grounds to file a lawsuit if you lived or worked near a sterilization facility using ethylene oxide and have been diagnosed with cancer or other related health conditions. We offer free consultations to discuss your case and help you determine if you qualify for legal action.

How Much Can an EtO Lawsuit Be Worth?

The value of an ethylene oxide lawsuit varies depending on individual circumstances.

Successful claims may result in compensation for:

Medical bills and future expenses
Lost income and earning capacity
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress and grief

Our team is dedicated to helping you seek maximum compensation for the significant impact that EtO-related cancers have on victims and their families.

We believe all victims who have developed cancer while living or working near an ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization facility should receive justice and potential compensation, beginning with a free, private case review with our experienced legal team.

Eligible victims are encouraged to request a free, private case evaluation by our experienced legal staff with the potential for compensation and justice.

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