Ethylene Oxide Lawsuits

In a recent precedent-setting case, a Gwinnett County jury awarded a retired truck driver, Gary Walker, with $20 million in damages, after he developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma due to decades of exposure to toxic emissions from a medical sterilization plant in Covington, Georgia. This case is just the beginning of ethylene oxide lawsuits. Hundreds of people are now bringing claims after being dangerously exposed to this carcinogenic chemical—whether through working at, or merely living near, facilities that let hazardous levels escape into the surrounding air.

There is mounting evidence that suggests prolonged exposure to ethylene oxide may be linked to serious health conditions, including breast cancer and leukemia. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after living or working near a sterilization facility or chemical plant, it’s important to determine whether you may have a case against one of these facilities and its owners. At The Lovely Law Firm we are committed to seeking justice for individuals who have suffered at the hands of another and this includes corporations whose actions have put large numbers of people at risk. We invite you to reach out to the team of mass tort lawyers here at our South Carolina law firm for a free case consultation to see how we can help you.

What Is Ethylene Oxide (EtO), Why Is It Dangerous?

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, odorless gas used primarily to sterilize medical equipment and manufacture certain chemicals. Ethylene oxide is widely used for industrial purposes, especially for sterilizing medical devices and producing antifreeze. Even though this chemical does serve an important function in certain industries, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans.
The greatest risk arises from long-term, low-level exposure to ethylene oxide, which often occurs for individuals who work at sterilization facilities or people living in nearby communities, since this gas can linger in the air and seep into homes, schools, and workplaces, leading to chronic inhalation exposure.

Illnesses Caused By Exposure to Ethylene Oxide (EtO)

A number of different types of illnesses, most significantly cancers, have been linked to long-term exposure to ethylene oxide. Among the most common are:

• non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• breast cancer
• leukemia
• multiple myeloma
• liver cancer (limited to non or light drinker and younger age)
• lung cancer (limited to non-smoker)

Of the types of cancers that have been most predominantly linked to ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure, breast cancer and leukemia stand out.

Breast Cancer and Ethylene Oxide Exposure

Scientific studies have shown a strong correlation between ethylene oxide exposure and an increased risk of breast cancer, particularly among women. The gas can interfere with the body’s hormonal and genetic systems, contributing to the development of breast tumors. People who had long-term exposure were at a higher risk of developing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive, early-stage breast cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and lived or worked near a sterilization plant or chemical factory known to emit ethylene oxide, you may have a valid legal claim. At The Lovely Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we work with medical and environmental experts to trace exposure pathways and strengthen your case. Contact our office to set up a free consultation.

Leukemia and Ethylene Oxide

One of the most well-documented health effects of ethylene oxide is its link to blood cancers, including leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. EtO is a mutagen, meaning it can damage DNA and disrupt blood cell formation in the bone marrow.
Individuals who have worked in sterilization facilities or who have lived within a few miles of one for several years are especially at risk. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with leukemia, and there’s a known source of ethylene oxide emissions nearby, it’s worth investigating whether the exposure may be the cause.

What is the Eligibility to Move Forward with an Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit?

If you feel that you may be eligible to pursue compensation for ethylene oxide exposure, it’s important to understand that there are some criteria which must be met:

• Diagnosis: You must have a qualifying health condition, such as breast cancer, leukemia, or another type of cancer known to be linked to EtO exposure.
• Exposure History: You must show that you lived or worked near a known emitter of ethylene oxide—typically within a few miles—for a significant period, often five years or more. This exposure history is currently being broken into three different categories:
  • Claimants who lived within 4 miles of a targeted site after the opening date for at least one year.
  • Claimant family members who lived within 4 miles of a targeted site after the opening date for at least one year.
  • Claimants who worked at a targeted site after the opening date for at least one year.
• Timeline: The timing of your diagnosis and the duration of your exposure both play crucial roles in establishing causation.
• Medical Records and Residence History: These documents are essential for building a solid case, as they help demonstrate both your illness and your proximity to the exposure source.

Facilities That Use Ethylene Oxide In or Near South Carolina

There are many facilities that use ethylene oxide in their sterilization process located near South Carolina, where the Lovely Law Firm practices. These include:

• Steris-Isomedix Services, Spartanburg, SC
• Sterigenics, U.S. LLC, Charlotte, NC
• DeRoyal Industries (Royal Sterilization Systems), New Tazewell, TN
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Madison, GA
• KPR U.S. LLC d/b/a/ Kendall Patient Recovery U.S. LLC, Augusta, GA
• Sterilization Services of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Covington, GA
• Lifenet Heatlh, Virginia Beach, VA
• Sterilization Services of Virginia (Henrico, VA), Henrico, VA
• American Contract Systems (Fort Myers Facility), Fort Myers, FL
• Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. Finishing, Ave Maria, FL
• International Sterilization Laboratory, Groveland, FL
• Medtronic Xomed, Jacksonville, FL
• American Contract Systems (Temple Terrace Facility), Temple Terrace, FL

If you have worked at any of the above or lived in close proximity to any of these facilities and are now suffering from cancer or other illnesses which are likely due to prolonged exposure to EtO we encourage you to reach out to our South Carolina law firm for a free consultation to see how we can help you.

Many individuals move to South Carolina to retire or just relocate to somewhere warmer, and there is the possibility that you may have lived near, or worked at, a facility that used ethylene oxide somewhere else in the country. If this is the case, and you are now located in South Carolina, The Lovely Law Firm can help. We are prepared to seek justice for individuals who are facing a cancer diagnosis because of exposure to EtO, regardless of what state the exposure occurred in. Some of the facilities located throughout the United States include:

• 3M Company – South Dakota
• American Contract Systems Inc. – California, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas
• B Braun Med Inc/Allentown – Pennsylvania
• Baxter Healthcare Corporation – Arkansas
• BD Medical/BD Pharmaceutical Systems – Utah, and Nebraska
• Blue Line Sterilization Services – California
• Boston Scientific – Rhode Island
• Cook Incorporated – Indiana
• Cosmed Group Inc. – New Jersey
• Cosmed Sterilization – New Jersey
• Covidien LP – Connecticut
• Customed, Inc. – Puerto Rico
• Edwards Lifesciences Technologies Sàrl – Puerto Rico
• Elite Spice, Inc – Maryland, and Nevada
• Ethicon, Inc. – Texas
• Fuchs North America – Maryland
• Guidant Puerto Rico, B.V. (dba Boston Scientific Puerto Rico) – Puerto Rico
• Jorgenson Labs Inc. – Colorado
• Lemco Ardmore – Oklahoma
• LivaNova – Colorado
• Long Island Sterilization – New York
• Medical Manufacturing Corporation – Pennsylvania
• Medline Industries – Illinois
• Medtronic – Minnesota, and Puerto Rico
• Midwest Sterilization Corporation – Texas, and Missouri
• North American Sterilization & Packaging Company – New Jersey
• Partner Medical Products Inc. – California
• Professional Contract Sterilization – Massachusetts
• St. Jude Medical CRMD – California
• Steregenics U.S. LLC – New York, California, Texas
• Steris Corporation/Steris Inc. – Massachusetts, Minnesota, and California
• Steritec, Inc. – Texas, and Puerto Rico
• Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc. – Colorado
• Trigen Laboratories – Maryland

What Should I Do If I Think I Have an Ethylene Oxide Case?

If you suspect your cancer may be linked to ethylene oxide exposure, don’t wait. In South Carolina, there is a statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims, typically three years from the date of diagnosis or discovery of the illness. Acting quickly can help preserve evidence and ensure your rights are protected. Contact The Lovely Law Firm for a free case consultation and we will help come up with the best course of action. We can review your medical history, assess potential sources of exposure, and advise you on the next steps, helping to determine if there is a direct link between your cancer and exposure to EtO from one of the above-mentioned facilities.

Contact a South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Ethylene Oxide Exposure

The companies responsible for ethylene oxide emissions often fail to warn nearby residents about the potential health risks. As the Gary Walker case shows, even after installing emissions controls, Bard did nothing to prevent the release of fugitive EtO emissions of their sterilized products sitting in local warehouses. If you’re suffering the consequences of these companies’ negligence, you deserve answers and compensation.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, leukemia, or another related illness, we’re here to stand by your side. Call our South Carolina law office today to schedule a confidential case evaluation and begin the process of holding polluters accountable.