Ethylene Oxide (EtO), a known carcinogen, has been used for industrial sterilization by various industries. Prolonged exposure to EtO has been linked to severe health risks, including multiple cancers and respiratory diseases.
It is alleged that companies like Sterigenics knew about the dangers of EtO, but continued to expose workers without consideration for their health. In January 2023, Sterigenics agreed to a $408 million settlement of more than 870 pending cases.
Those who worked in an EtO-using company, lived close to a facility that used EtO, or have lost a loved one to an EtO-related cancer may have a path to justice. Our experienced mass tort attorneys are standing by.
Ethylene oxide is a common and incredibly versatile compound that is used in numerous everyday products. It is often found in household cleaners and personal care items and is used to create fabrics and manufacture raw materials into useful products. It can also be found in the development of automotive fluids including antifreeze and brake fluids.
Ethylene oxide is a critical component in the sterilization of medical equipment, including PPE used by doctors and other medical professionals, as well as hospitals across the country. Estimates indicate that over 50 percent of medical devices are sterilized using EtO.
That amounts to 50 million medical devices sterilized each day in the US, and over 20 billion devices sterilized annually.
There is some forward momentum in ensuring public safety regarding EtO exposure. Since 2002, industrial EtO emissions have fallen by over 80%. The EPA and other state agencies have invested time and effort to work on reducing the hazards related to EtO.
Ethylene oxide is valuable as a sterilizing agent for many reasons. Its power lies in its ability to render products free of microorganisms. When EtO gas molecules encounter microbial DNA, it destroys it.
EtO sterilization is considered the most widely applicable method for various medical products and devices due to its efficacy at lower temperatures and its compatibility with diverse materials, resins, and product types. EtO works with:
The EtO sterilization process does have many benefits, including:
Because EtO is used mainly as a chemical intermediary, it is often found in manufacturing plants. It is emitted into the air through uncontrolled emissions or venting with other gases in industrial settings. It can also be released from commodity-fumigated materials.
According to the EPA, the general public is exposed to EtO through breathing contaminated air, either in the facility or around it. Certain occupations, including workers in the manufacturing or processing plants, sterilization technicians, and workers involved in fumigation, may be exposed in the workplace.
Acute inhalation of EtO at high levels can result in nausea, vomiting, neurological disorders, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, and emphysema.
Physical contact, including skin or eyes, is known to cause intense irritation.
Other chronic effects include:
The occupations most at risk for EtO exposure include:
Sterigenics is a medical device sterilization company. Now a subsidiary of Sotera Health, Sterigenics was located in Willowbrook, IL. It was discovered that the plant was toxifying the surrounding air with dangerous levels of EtO.
EtO is a known carcinogen, and Sterigenics, describing itself as “a global leader in comprehensive sterilization solutions meeting industrial sterilization needs in the medical device, pharmaceutical, advanced applications, commercial and food industries,” has been polluting the air with EtO since 1985.
If used correctly, EtO is a powerful sterilization agent. But, if the poisonous gas is exposed to humans, it can result in “respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath and cyanosis,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Currently, Sterigenics has over 25 plants in North America, including Schaumburg and Oak Brook, Illinois.
The town of Willowbrook, IL, just 30 minutes from Chicago, is idyllic. The neighborhoods are lined with stretches of trees and grassy fields, and ponds are full of wildlife. But beneath this wholesome Midwest landscape, a nefarious risk loomed.
Willowbrook is the home of the first Sterigenics plant, and for over 34 years, it pumped untold amounts of ethylene oxide into the air of the surrounding community. A nondescript office building with floor-to-ceiling windows and cheerful shrubbery hid a generational menace.
In 1984, the Illinois EPA warned Sterigenics (then Griffith Laboratories) that the 40 tons of EtO released during the previous year were “several magnitudes higher than desirable.” The company was warned that exposure could cause cancers of the pancreas, bladder, brain, and stomach. The letter goes on to state that the EtO released was at levels ranging from 14 to 445 times the acceptable level for those within a 1-mile radius of the plant. At that time, there were reportedly 20,000 people in that mile radius, including schools and parks.
In 2019, CBS News Chicago uncovered information about Sterigenics that shocked the public. It was alleged that Willowbrook workers were ordered to dump toxic chemicals into the public sewer system. High level executives wer also covering up how much EtO was actually being released into the air. According to a former worker (who did not want to be identified), “plant supervisors would dump ethylene oxide’s byproduct — ethylene glycol — down the public sewer drains to avoid the cost of shutting down operations.” Other former workers said Sterigenics manipulated the alarm systems put in place to warn workers when they were overexposed to dangerous chemicals.
When alarms went off, workers were told to ignore them. One forklift operator described the frequent alarms, “he was repeatedly told to ignore it, not talk about it, and just deal with it or find work elsewhere.” Another worker was told to simply open the door and let the gas out.
The EPA knew about Sterigenics and the risk it posed long before 2019. The EPA said that despite having an abundance of evidence and data on toxic emissions, including a finding that “the cancer risk in one census tract near the facility was nine times higher than the national average,” it wasn’t able to take immediate action.
In September 2019, Sterigenics announced that the Willowbrook location would be permanently closed. The statement went on to say that due to “inaccurate and unfounded claims regarding Sterigenics and the unstable legislative and regulatory landscape in Illinois [that] created an environment in which it [was] not prudent to maintain critical sterilization operations in Willowbrook.”
Despite the Willowbrook location being shuttered, Sterigenics still operates plants across the nation. They must be continually monitored to ensure public safety. In 2020, the EPA published revised regulations for Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing facilities, requiring them to have additional controls on certain equipment and processes that emit EtO.
Sterigenics main facility was in Willowbrook, IL. If you worked or lived near Medline Industries, Vantage Specialty Chemicals, or the main plant, you may have been exposed to toxic levels of EtO.
Exposure has expanded to these communities:
Prolonged exposure to ethylene oxide can have immediate and long-term consequences to your health. Continuous exposure can increase the chance of developing rare and life-threatening diseases, including various cancers. The EPA has stated that those who live near places that emit EtO gas have a 1 in 10,000 chance of developing cancer.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported a 63% increase in risk of breast cancer in women exposed to EtO.
Exposure to EtO has been shown to cause various cancers, including:
If you have worked at a facility that uses EtO, lived close to a facility, or have lost a loved one to an EtO-related cancer, there is still time. If you are experiencing any of the above health issues, the first step is to see your doctor immediately.
Our lawyers are reviewing cases in all affected states. We are focused on those diagnosed with cancer resulting from prolonged exposure to EtO.
The nationwide litigation is winding its way through the court system, and new orders are coming down at a rapid pace. Follow the updates and cases as they are added.
In September 2022, Sterigenics was ordered to pay Willowbrook resident Susan Kamuda $363 million for exposing her to EtO. Kamuda developed breast cancer after moving to Willowbrook in 1985. The plant emitted hazardous chemicals into the air until February 2019, when it was finally shut down following extensive EPA testing.
No Chicago worker or resident should have to face the consequences of cancer from ethylene oxide exposure alone. If you or a family member was exposed to EtO and developed lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic, or another EtO-related illness, Vogelzang Law can help.
With over 25 years of experience, a proven track record, and an unwavering commitment to clients, we are ready to stand by your side.
Our Chicago ethylene oxide exposure attorneys will work to hold Sterigenics accountable for their actions, recover the compensation you deserve, and help ease the overwhelming challenges of your diagnosis. We want you to focus on your health and your family while we take care of the rest.
Don’t wait. Contact Vogelzang Law today at (312) 466-1669 or through our online form for a free consultation to discuss your case and legal options for financial compensation. Justice is within reach, and we are here to help you fight for it.
EtO is one of the most potent airborne carcinogens, even at low concentrations.
The primary method of exposure to EtO is through inhalation as it is a toxic gas. After EtO has been inhaled, it reaches the bloodstream and quickly circulates throughout the body, reaching organs such as bone marrow, lymphatic tissue, and breast tissue.
It reacts directly with DNA, RNA, and proteins, binding to DNA and interfering with replication.
EtO exposure can also cause chromosomal aberrations, including sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei formation, and abnormal chromosome numbers (aneuploidy).
Research has shown that those living near or working in EtO-emitting plants are at elevated levels of risk for certain cancers.
The strongest links are to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, blood cancers, and breast cancer.
Although they are less common, liver, lung, and stomach cancer are also linked to EtO exposure.
To file a claim, you will need the following documents:
If you are filing for a loved one, you will need:
The main steps to file a claim are as follows:
The CDC states that EtO can leave your body within hours or days. This means that breath and blood tests are not able to accurately show whether you have been exposed to EtO. To file a claim, you will need a cancer diagnosis.