Sterigenics Willowbrook Lawsuit

Establishing a strong claim for toxic exposure from the Willowbrook facility requires comprehensive documentation of your residential proximity to 7775 Quincy Street and medical records confirming a cancer diagnosis linked to ETO exposure.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s air monitoring data from 2018 revealed that the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility posed increased cancer risks to surrounding communities, with cancer rates exceeding acceptable thresholds by up to ten times the national average.

Documentation needed to support your claim involves:

• Residential Proof: Property deeds, lease agreements, or utility bills showing residence within 1-3 kilometers (0.6-1.8 miles) of the facility for at least one year
• Employment Records: W-2 forms, pay stubs, or HR documentation if you worked at or within 5 miles of the Willowbrook plant
• Medical Documentation: Pathology reports confirming cancer diagnosis, particularly for breast cancer (60% increased risk), leukemia, or lymphoma
• Address History: School enrollment records showing children attended schools within the high-risk zone (99.9th percentile for cancer risk)
• Exposure Timeline: Documentation spanning 1984-2019, when the facility released 17,000-33,000 pounds of ethylene oxide annually before 1999
• Witness Statements: Notarized affidavits from neighbors documenting health impacts in the community
• Photo Evidence: Dated photographs or videos establishing proximity to 7775 Quincy Street during operational years

Your attorney will use EPA monitoring data and expert testimony to establish that hazardous emissions from Willowbrook operations created an elevated cancer risk for those in the surrounding area.

The stronger your documentation of both exposure duration and medical diagnosis, the more compelling your case becomes.

Damages in Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuits

Victims who developed cancer or other serious health effects from ethylene oxide exposure may recover substantial compensation for both economic and non-economic damages through litigation against Sterigenics.

A Cook County jury awarded Sue Kamuda $363 million in September 2022, including $38 million in compensatory damages and $325 million in punitive damages, demonstrating the potential value of these claims for those harmed by the company’s hazardous emissions.

Recoverable damages in ethylene oxide cases encompass both immediate and long-term impacts, including past and future medical expenses for cancer treatment, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering endured during treatment and recovery.

Courts also recognize emotional distress and mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and normal activities, and in cases of willful corporate misconduct, substantial punitive damages designed to punish and deter such behavior.

For families who lost loved ones to cancer, wrongful death damages provide compensation for both economic losses and the immeasurable loss of companionship.

The $363 million jury verdict awarded to Susan Kamuda represents one specific case outcome and is not indicative of typical results.

Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on individual facts and circumstances.

If you or a loved one lived near the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility and developed cancer after exposure to ethylene oxide emissions, you may be entitled to compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to file an Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit today.

In January 2023, Sterigenics and parent company Sotera Health agreed to pay $408 million to resolve 879 pending ethylene oxide cases connected to the now-closed Willowbrook facility, marking one of the largest environmental toxic exposure settlements in Illinois history.

This massive settlement came just months after a Cook County Circuit Court jury awarded Susan Kamuda $363 million in damages, sending a clear message that juries were prepared to hold the company accountable for decades of hazardous emissions that exposed communities to a known carcinogen.

Record-Breaking Settlement for 879 Claimants

The $408 million settlement represents one of the largest mass tort resolutions for environmental toxic exposure in recent years.

This settlement surpassed many other environmental exposure cases nationwide, reflecting both the severity of health impacts and the strength of evidence showing that the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility operated without adequate emission controls while the Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators documented cancer risks far exceeding acceptable levels.

The settlement structure included provisions for individual claim evaluations based on cancer type and severity, with compensation tiers reflecting different levels of exposure and harm.

The agreement established expedited payment processes to provide relief to cancer survivors while ensuring legal fee arrangements allowed eligible claimants to receive maximum compensation.

Three claimants exercised opt-out provisions to pursue individual trials, believing they could achieve outcomes similar to the Kamuda verdict.

The settlement administration process required substantially all plaintiffs to provide opt-in consents, with 99.7% participation achieved by June 2023.

This overwhelming acceptance rate demonstrated the settlement’s fairness and the plaintiffs’ desire to secure compensation without enduring lengthy trials while battling cancer and other serious health effects from their toxic exposure.

$363 Million Jury Verdict That Started It All

In September 2022, a Cook County jury delivered a stunning verdict awarding breast cancer survivor Susan Kamuda $363 million in damages against Sterigenics, including $38 million in compensatory damages and $325 million in punitive damages designed to punish the company for its conduct.

The jury found that Sterigenics knew its Willowbrook operations exposed nearby residents to dangerous levels of ethylene oxide but failed to implement available emission controls, with evidence showing the company explicitly told regulators it “does not want to control its emissions” as early as 1985.

During the five-week trial, jurors heard compelling evidence including EPA monitoring emissions data showing cancer risks up to 10 times acceptable levels and internal company documents acknowledging emission concerns.

Expert testimony established clear links between ethylene oxide and breast cancer, while Kamuda’s medical records showed no family history of cancer despite her 30+ years living just one-third mile from the facility.

Community health studies documented elevated cancer rates in the area, painting a damning picture of corporate negligence.

Please be advised that all settlement ranges mentioned on this page are historical examples from past settlements and are not guaranteed for future cases.

These figures represent specific outcomes from the past settlement and should not be taken as definitive expectations for your case.

Individual compensation depends on numerous factors including diagnosis severity, exposure duration, medical costs, and case-specific evidence.

If you were diagnosed with breast cancer, lymphoma, or leukemia after living within 5 miles of the Sterigenics Willowbrook plant, you may still have a viable claim for compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page for a free consultation to see if you’re eligible to join others filing a Sterigenics lawsuit today.

The Willowbrook Sterigenics facility permanently ceased operations in 2019 following unprecedented state intervention triggered by alarming air monitoring results that revealed the highest levels of ethylene oxide ever recorded in the area.

Illinois EPA Acting Director John Kim issued an emergency seal order on February 15, 2019, immediately halting all sterilization cycles after the company refused to voluntarily suspend operations despite mounting evidence of public health risks and intense community pressure from residents who had organized “Stop Sterigenics” campaigns.

The path to closure began in late 2018 when Environmental Protection Agency monitoring detected cancer-causing ethylene oxide concentrations that posed what officials called “an imminent and substantial endangerment” to nearby residents and workers.

Independent 30-day air monitoring tests conducted in early 2019 not only showed extreme daily fluctuations in ethylene oxide levels but recorded the highest concentrations ever measured near the facility, prompting Willowbrook Mayor Frank Trilla to declare that “these new test results prove one thing; Sterigenics needs to be shut down.”

Timeline of key events leading to permanent closure consists of:

• November 2017: Chicago Tribune exposes EPA findings showing cancer risk 9 times national average in census tract 8822.02
• August 2018: EPA releases National Air Toxics Assessment ranking Willowbrook area in 99.9th percentile for cancer risk
• December 2018: State monitoring detects ethylene oxide levels of 18.5 micrograms per cubic meter (36 times EPA’s acceptable risk)
• February 7, 2019: Emergency meeting between state/federal EPA officials to discuss enforcement after readings exceed 200 ppb
• February 15, 2019: Illinois EPA issues unprecedented emergency seal order, immediately stopping all 19 sterilization chambers
• September 30, 2019: Sterigenics announces permanent closure after losing bid to reopen with emission controls
• 2019-2023: Over 880 cancer victims file lawsuits, leading to $408 million settlement for 879 claimants

Despite Sterigenics’ attempts to reopen with enhanced emission controls following the seal order, sustained community opposition, political pressure from Governor J.B. Pritzker, and the prospect of continued litigation made resuming operations untenable.

The permanent closure on September 30, 2019, marked a victory for public health advocates and residents who had fought for years to address the safety risk posed by the commercial sterilization facilities, though many continued to seek financial compensation for cancers they developed during decades of exposure to hazardous emissions.

If you or someone you know developed cancer or other serious health conditions from ethylene oxide exposure at the Willowbrook facility, financial compensation may be available.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and learn about filing an EtO Lawsuit today.

The mass tort litigation against Sterigenics stems from decades of operations at the Willowbrook facility, where the company used ethylene oxide to sterilize medical devices and equipment without adequately controlling emissions that exposed surrounding communities to a known carcinogen.

The Environmental Protection Agency has classified ethylene oxide as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act, and both the EPA and International Agency for Research on Cancer recognize it as a Group 1 human carcinogen with sufficient evidence linking exposure to various cancers in humans, particularly breast cancer and cancers of the white blood cells.

Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility Lawsuits: Cancer Causing Chemical Emissions

The Willowbrook Sterigenics facility operated at two locations from 1984 until 2019, using massive quantities of ethylene oxide as a sterilizing agent to disinfect medical equipment while releasing thousands of pounds of the toxic gas into surrounding neighborhoods annually.

According to Illinois Department of Public Health records, the sterilization plant released between 17,000 and 33,000 pounds of ethylene oxide each year before 1999, with emissions continuing at approximately 5,000 pounds annually thereafter until enhanced controls were implemented following public outcry and regulatory pressure in 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment identified the area surrounding the Willowbrook facility as having elevated cancer risks, with subsequent monitoring in 2018 confirming that ethylene oxide concentrations posed what regulators called an “imminent and substantial endangerment” to public health.

Evidence presented during pretrial discovery in litigation revealed that Sterigenics explicitly told regulators it “does not want to control its emissions” as early as 1985, demonstrating decades of corporate indifference to community safety while the company profited from sterilizing medical devices using methods that put thousands at risk of developing cancer.

The Willowbrook litigation represents the largest and most successful ethylene oxide exposure case to date, with the $408 million settlement far exceeding recoveries in other states and setting important precedents for holding commercial sterilization facilities accountable for community health impacts.

While similar lawsuits have emerged across the country targeting facilities that use ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment, the combination of strong scientific evidence, organized community advocacy, and favorable Illinois law created uniquely powerful conditions that led to the record-breaking settlement for those exposed to hazardous emissions.

How Willowbrook Compares to Atlanta and Other Facilities

The stark contrast between Willowbrook’s $408 million settlement for 879 claimants and Georgia’s $35 million settlement for just 79 claims demonstrates how location, regulatory environment, and jury composition impact case outcomes.

The Georgia litigation, targeting Sterigenics’ Cobb County facility near Atlanta, resolved in October 2023 for less than one-tenth the total value despite similar allegations that the sterilization plant exposed nearby residents to cancer-causing emissions, with approximately 400 additional claims still pending that may increase the ultimate settlement value.

Comparison of major EtO litigation settlements demonstrates the following patterns:

• Willowbrook, Illinois: $408 million for 879 claimants ($464,000 average) – facility permanently closed February 2019
• Cobb County, Georgia: $35 million for 79 claimants ($443,000 average) – facility remains operational with controls
• Pennsylvania (B.Braun): 36 lawsuits filed February 2022, confidential settlements reached in 2025 for undisclosed amounts
• Santa Teresa, New Mexico: Attorney General lawsuit filed January 2021, ongoing with no settlements announced
• Vernon, California: South Coast AQMD violations issued 2022, litigation pending with facility labeled “high risk”

Unlike Willowbrook, which permanently closed in 2019 following state intervention, many facilities involved in litigation continue operating while implementing enhanced emission controls to reduce emissions.

The Atlanta-area Sterigenics facility remains operational despite ongoing lawsuits, as does B. Braun Medical’s Pennsylvania plant, creating continued exposure risks for nearby communities while legal battles proceed over past damages from decades of toxic exposure.

Settlement Amounts Across Different States

Settlement values in ethylene oxide cases vary dramatically based on state tort laws, caps on damages, jury attitudes toward corporate defendants, and the strength of environmental regulations in each jurisdiction.

Illinois courts have proven particularly favorable to plaintiffs, with no caps on punitive damages and juries willing to hold companies accountable for prioritizing profits over public safety, as demonstrated by the $325 million punitive damage award in the Kamuda case that prompted the global settlement.

Several factors influence settlement values across states, including damage caps and tort reform limitations that restrict recovery in some jurisdictions, along with varying state environmental regulations and enforcement histories.

The number of plaintiffs and ability to consolidate cases affects leverage in negotiations, while the political climate regarding environmental protection can influence both regulatory action and jury sympathy.

The average settlement amount represents a mathematical calculation from one specific group settlement and does not predict individual case values.

Actual compensation varied significantly above and below this average based on individual circumstances.

Future cases may result in different outcomes due to changing legal standards, available evidence, and case-specific factors.

No attorney can guarantee any specific settlement amount.

If you lived, worked, or attended school near the Sterigenics facility at 7775 Quincy Street and later developed cancer, you may qualify for substantial compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page for a free case review to determine your eligibility for a Willowbrook Lawsuit today.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that chronic exposure to ethylene oxide from commercial sterilization facilities poses severe health risks, with scientific evidence demonstrating clear links between long-term inhalation and multiple types of cancer.

EPA risk assessments specific to the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility found that residents faced lifetime cancer risks up to 1,000 per million people—far exceeding the agency’s acceptable risk threshold of 100 per million—with risks increasing based on proximity to the sterilization plant and duration of exposure to hazardous emissions.

Types of Cancer Linked to Ethylene Oxide Exposure

The Environmental Protection Agency has identified ethylene oxide as a potent human carcinogen that causes multiple cancer types, with particularly strong evidence linking exposure to breast cancer in women and various cancers of the white blood cells.

Studies of workers in sterilization facilities and residents living near plants that sterilize medical devices have consistently shown elevated rates of these cancers, leading regulatory agencies worldwide to classify ethylene oxide in the highest risk category for cancer-causing substances.

Cancers associated with ethylene oxide exposure feature research such as:

• Breast Cancer: 60% increased risk for women living within 3 kilometers; Swedish workers showed 2.3x higher incidence
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study of 18,000 workers found 46% increased mortality from lymphohematopoietic cancers
• Multiple Myeloma: 2-3 times higher rates in chronically exposed workers according to 2020 occupational studies
• Lymphocytic Leukemia: Both acute (ALL) and chronic (CLL) forms show a dose-response relationship in EPA assessments
• Myeloid Leukemias: Animal studies demonstrate increases in female Fischer rats at 100 ppm exposure
• Hodgkin Lymphoma: Elevated rates documented in multiple international cohort studies of sterilization workers

The biological mechanism by which ethylene oxide causes cancer involves its ability to damage DNA directly, creating mutations that can lead to uncontrolled cell growth.

This highly reactive alkylating agent forms DNA adducts that interfere with normal cellular function, and because it readily penetrates tissues and crosses biological barriers, exposure through inhalation can affect multiple organ systems throughout the body.

Cancers of the White Blood Cells

EPA scientists have found particularly strong associations between ethylene oxide exposure and cancers affecting the blood-forming system, with studies showing workers and residents exposed to emissions from facilities that sterilize medical equipment face elevated risks of developing these often-fatal diseases.

The agency’s comprehensive risk assessment determined that ethylene oxide causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia at rates far exceeding background levels in unexposed populations, with risks increasing substantially for those living closest to emission sources.

The evidence supporting links to blood cancers is compelling and multifaceted.

Studies in occupational settings consistently show 2-3 times higher rates in exposed workers, while community health surveys have documented cancer clusters near facilities.

The biological plausibility is well-established based on ethylene oxide’s mutagenic properties, with clear dose-response relationships demonstrating that higher exposure equals greater risk.

This consistency across multiple epidemiological studies worldwide, combined with confirming animal studies showing carcinogenic effects on blood cells, provides overwhelming scientific support for causation.

The latency period for these cancers can range from several years to decades after initial exposure, meaning residents who lived near the Willowbrook facility during its 35 years of operation may still develop cancer years after the plant’s closure.

Children exposed to ethylene oxide face particularly high risks due to their developing immune systems and longer remaining lifespans during which cancers may emerge.

Non-Cancer Health Conditions and Effects Linked to EtO Emissions

Beyond its established role as a carcinogen, ethylene oxide exposure causes numerous non-cancer health effects that can impact quality of life and require ongoing medical treatment.

Acute exposure to higher concentrations causes immediate respiratory irritation, while chronic lower-level exposure—such as that experienced by local communities near sterilization facilities—can lead to persistent neurological symptoms including impaired coordination, reproductive problems, and damage to multiple organ systems that may not manifest until years after initial exposure.

Non-cancer health effects documented in exposed populations involve methods such as:

• Respiratory Impacts: Chronic cough lasting 3+ years post-exposure; asthma exacerbation requiring 20% increase in medication
• Neurological Damage: Peripheral neuropathy affecting 63% of workers exposed at 4.7 ppm for 5+ years; memory loss documented in 2-month exposures
• Eye & Skin Reactions: Corneal injuries from liquid splashes; contact dermatitis in 15-20% of exposed workers
• Reproductive Toxicity: Miscarriage rates 2x higher in exposed women; birth defects including neural tube abnormalities
• Blood Cell Changes: Decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels; elevated reticulocytes indicating bone marrow stress
• Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Nausea/vomiting in 35% of acute exposures above 260 ppm odor threshold
• Cardiovascular Effects: Heart rhythm abnormalities documented in high-exposure scenarios
• Endocrine Disruption: Adrenal gland lesions found in guinea pig studies; hormonal imbalances in chronic exposure

Scientific studies have shown that even exposure levels previously considered “safe” can cause measurable biological changes, including DNA damage and oxidative stress markers.

If you or a family member were exposed to toxic emissions from the Willowbrook Sterigenics plant between 1984-2019 and developed cancer, you may be eligible to seek damages.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and explore your options for filing an Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit today.

Our Ethylene Oxide Exposure attorney at TruLaw is dedicated to supporting clients through the process of filing an Ethylene Oxide Exposure lawsuit.

With extensive experience in toxic chemical exposure cases, Jessica Paluch-Hoerman and our partner law firms work with litigation leaders and medical experts to prove how ethylene oxide emissions from industrial facilities caused you harm.

TruLaw focuses on securing compensation for medical expenses, cancer treatments, pain and suffering, lost income, and other damages resulting from your ethylene oxide exposure injuries.

We recognize that cancer often develops in specific areas near industrial facilities, sometimes referred to as cancer alleys, where multiple sources of toxic emissions including ethylene oxide and other chemicals combine to create heightened health risks for residents.

Meet the Lead Ethylene Oxide Exposure Attorney at TruLaw

Meet our lead Ethylene Oxide Exposure attorney:

• Jessica Paluch-Hoerman: As founder and managing attorney of TruLaw, Jessica brings her experience in toxic exposure and personal injury to her client-centered approach by prioritizing open communication and personalized attention with her clients. Through TruLaw and partner law firms, Jessica has helped collect over $3 billion on behalf of injured individuals across all 50 states through verdicts and negotiated settlements.

How much does hiring an Ethylene Oxide Exposure lawyer from TruLaw cost?

At TruLaw, we believe financial concerns should never stand in the way of justice.

That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis—with this approach, you only pay legal fees after you’ve been awarded compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one developed cancer or other health problems after being exposed to ethylene oxide emissions from nearby industrial facilities, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to join others in filing an Ethylene Oxide Exposure lawsuit today.

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.

If you or a loved one developed breast cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, or other health problems after being exposed to ethylene oxide emissions from nearby industrial facilities, 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.