Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit

Medical equipment sterilization serves as a key process in healthcare to prevent infections and avoid potential safety hazard issues for patients.

Companies use ethylene oxide (EtO) in commercial sterilization facilities to produce sterile medical devices and surgical kits on a massive scale, with approximately 20 billion devices sterilized using this method annually.

This gas functions as a sterilizing agent that plays an important role in making sure medical tools and equipment remain free from harmful microorganisms when used in procedures and treatments.

Regulatory Oversight of Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Government agencies and health administration authorities closely monitor and regulate ethylene oxide use due to occupational safety, human health and environmental concerns.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) serves as the primary regulator of EtO emissions from sterilization plants through federal regulations in the United States.

The EPA has recently strengthened its rules regarding ethylene oxide, classified as a human carcinogen, issuing a final rule that aims to reduce emissions from commercial sterilizers by more than 90%.

These regulations fall under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, which requires the agency to review and update emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants every eight years.

The FDA also works alongside the EPA to balance the need for effective medical device sterilization performed by medical sterilization companies with minimizing potential health risks from ethylene oxide exposure while maintaining standards for FDA approval of sterilization methods.

Sterigenics, a major operator of medical sterilization facilities that Sterigenics owns, has faced numerous lawsuits related to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from their facilities.

These legal actions have resulted in substantial settlements, including a $408 million agreement resolving more than 870 claims related to the Illinois sterilization facility and a $35 million settlement involving 79 plaintiffs in Georgia.

The lawsuits allege that EtO emissions from Sterigenics facilities have caused various health issues, with cancer being the primary concern for those exposed to this cancer causing chemical among other chemicals.

Determining If You Qualify for Compensation

Qualifying for an ethylene oxide lawsuit depends on several factors related to your exposure and health condition.

Your eligibility for pursuing legal action hinges on demonstrating a connection between EtO exposure and your illness.

Factors that may qualify you for compensation include:

• Being among community members, local residents or workers exposed within 1.5 miles of the Sterigenics willowbrook facility or other Sterigenics locations during the period when EtO was being emitted
• Developing certain types of cancer or illness linked to EtO exposure, such as breast cancer, lymphoma, lymphocytic leukemia, impaired coordination, or disorders affecting white blood cells and other blood components
• Having no strong family history or other risk factors that would better explain your condition
• Meeting the statute of limitations requirements in your state for filing a toxic exposure claim

Many successful cases have been built on showing a clear timeline between exposure and illness onset.

In one notable case, a jury awarded $363 million to a woman who developed breast cancer after living near the willowbrook plant in Illinois, where an estimated 254,000 pounds of ethylene oxide were released between 1993 and 2017.

Documentation Needed to Prove Ethylene Oxide Exposure

Building a strong case requires thorough documentation that establishes both your exposure to ethylene oxide and the resulting health effects.

Medical records form the foundation of your claim by showing your diagnosis and treatment history.

Your legal team will need evidence that confirms your proximity to a Sterigenics facility during the relevant time period.

This can include property records, lease agreements, documentation of exposure in occupational settings, or tax returns that verify your residential or work address during the exposure timeframe.

Gathering any available air quality reports, EPA findings, toxics release inventory data, or other environmental testing data for the area can help establish the presence and concentration of ethylene oxide in your vicinity.

Ethylene oxide exposure lawsuits are being filed by individuals across the country who developed cancer and other serious health conditions after being exposed to industrial emissions of this toxic gas.

TruLaw is currently accepting clients for the ethylene oxide exposure lawsuit.

A few reasons to choose TruLaw for your ethylene oxide exposure lawsuit include:

• If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay: The ethylene oxide exposure lawyers at TruLaw and our partner firms operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you win.
• Expertise: We have decades of experience handling toxic exposure cases similar to the ethylene oxide exposure lawsuit.
• Successful Track Record: TruLaw and our partner law firms have helped our clients recover billions of dollars in compensation through verdicts and negotiated settlements, with many clients reporting a very positive experience throughout the legal process.

If you or a loved one developed health problems after being exposed to ethylene oxide emissions from a nearby Sterigenics sterilization facility, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation that can determine if you qualify for the Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit today.