Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit

Published By:
Picture of Jessica Paluch-Hoerman
Jessica Paluch-Hoerman

Attorney Jessica Paluch-Hoerman, founder of TruLaw, has over 28 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.

TruLaw does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us by using the chat on the bottom of this page. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.

Key takeaways:

  • Sterigenics faces numerous lawsuits alleging ethylene oxide emissions caused cancer, resulting in significant settlements including $408 million in Illinois and $35 million in Georgia.
  • To qualify for a lawsuit, individuals must demonstrate living/working within 1.5 miles of a facility, developing EtO-linked cancers like breast cancer or lymphoma, and meeting statute of limitations requirements.
  • Ethylene oxide remains essential for sterilizing approximately 20 billion medical devices annually despite health concerns, prompting the EPA to strengthen regulations aiming to reduce emissions by over 90%.

How do I file a Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit?

Question: How do I file a Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit?

Answer: To file a Sterigenics ethylene oxide exposure lawsuit, you need to gather strong evidence linking your health condition to hazardous emissions from Sterigenics facilities.

This includes obtaining medical records confirming a diagnosis of an EtO-related cancer or serious health problem, proof of residence or employment near medical sterilization plants operated by Sterigenics, and documentation of exposure levels.

TruLaw is actively accepting new clients for the Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit.

On this page, we’ll discuss this question in further depth, filing a Sterigenics lawsuit for EtO exposure, medical equipment sterilization and ethylene oxide, and much more.

Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit; Medical Equipment Sterilization and Ethylene Oxide; Filing a Sterigenics Lawsuit for EtO Exposure; Determining If You Qualify for Compensation

Filing a Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit

You should collect any available air quality reports, emissions data or evidence of exposure risks and regulatory violations by the company.

Once you have compiled this evidence, contact a law firm experienced in handling ethylene oxide lawsuits.

They can evaluate your case for free, help gather additional evidence, assess potential damages, and file the lawsuit on your behalf.

Lawsuits typically allege that Sterigenics negligently released toxic EtO emissions, failed to warn the public about long term exposure, and ignored known health risks.

If successful, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation covering medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to EtO exposure.

If you or someone you love has experienced cancer or other serious health complications due to ethylene oxide exposure, you may qualify to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation that can determine your eligibility to file a Sterigenics ethylene oxide lawsuit.

Table of Contents

Medical Equipment Sterilization and Ethylene Oxide

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.

Medical Equipment Sterilization and Ethylene Oxide

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.

Filing a Sterigenics Lawsuit for EtO Exposure

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.

Medical Equipment Sterilization and Ethylene Oxide; Filing a Sterigenics Lawsuit for EtO Exposure

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.

Medical Equipment Sterilization and Ethylene Oxide; Filing a Sterigenics Lawsuit for EtO Exposure; Determining If You Qualify for Compensation

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.

TruLaw: Accepting Clients for the Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit

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.

Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions

Published By:
Picture of Jessica Paluch-Hoerman
Jessica Paluch-Hoerman

Managing Attorney & Owner

With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessica Paluch-Hoerman is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three.  She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.

In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.

In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share the most reliable, accurate, and up-to-date legal information with our readers!

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