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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, 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.
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. Companies that utilize EtO must 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.
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.
Several companies operate multiple high-risk sterilization facilities:
- American Contract Systems: 2 facilities
- Becton Dickinson: 3 facilities
- Boston Scientific: 3 facilities
- Cosmed Group: 3 facilities
- Elite Spice: 3 facilities
- Medtronic: 5 facilities
- Midwest Sterilization: 2 facilities
- Sterigenics: 7 facilities
- Sterilization Services: 2 facilities
- Steris: 5 facilities
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.
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.
People Living Near a Sterilization Facility, Nurses that have worked in hospitals, Truck Drivers that have transported equipment, and warehouse workers that have stored the equipment may be eligible to seek significant compensation.
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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
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.
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Help for Victims & Families Who Have Suffered
There Is A Documented History Of Findings Indicating That Inhaling EtO Over An Extended Period Significantly Increases The Risk Of Developing Certain Cancers
In 2022, the EPA conducted a risk assessment of nearly 100 U.S. sterilization facilities, identifying 23 locations where residents face a significantly elevated risk of cancer due to EtO exposure.
According to the EPA, prolonged inhalation of ethylene oxide can cause various cancers, including:
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Leukemia
Breast cancer
Cancers of the pancreas, lungs, brain, ovaries, and bladder
Notable facilities where residents face a significantly elevated risk of cancer include:
Terumo BCT Sterilization in Lakewood, CO
International Sterilization Laboratory in Groveland, FL
Elite Spice in Jessup, MD
Midwest Sterilization in Jackson, MO
Steritec in Athens, TX
Compensation Begins With A Free Online Case Review
Eligible Victims Who Have Developed Breast Cancer, Lymphatic Leukemia or other certain condition May be able to Receive Justice And Compensation
Ethylene Oxide FAQ: Questions About Ethylene Oxide
What is 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:
- Cancers of the white blood cells, such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia
- Breast cancer
- Various neurological symptoms, such as memory loss and impaired coordination
The EPA emphasized that children are particularly vulnerable to EtO exposure, and long-term health impacts could emerge later in life.
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?
Recent studies have uncovered a disturbing association between prolonged use of Depo-Provera and an increased risk of developing meningiomas, which are non-cancerous tumors that form in the meninges—the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Though typically benign, these tumors can cause significant health complications by compressing vital brain tissue, nerves, or blood vessels.
Survivors can seek justice for cancer diagnoses caused by EtO, even if it occurred years ago.
Experienced attorneys can help you fight to hold those responsible for your actions accountable. Contact us for a free case evaluation today.
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