We are investigating claims on behalf of those who were diagnosed with cancer and previously
or currently live and/or work near industrial plants, where cancer causing ethylene oxide is
emitted into the air.
The EPA has identified approximately 100 locations where ethylene oxide is currently or
recently been emitted into the air. You can view the full list through this link:
https://www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide/ethylene-oxide-commercial-
sterilization-facilities
Ethylene Oxide is a flammable, colorless gas at room temperature.
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/ethyleneoxide.pdf. Chemical plants use
ethylene oxide to manufacturer other chemicals, such as ethylene glycol (antifreeze). Ethylene
oxide can also be used to sterilize certain medical equipment that cannot be sterilized by
traditional methods. This can include surgical equipment and other medical equipment.
As the below chart from an Environmental Protection Agency presentation shows, ethylene
oxide can be emitted when used by a chemical plan to produce other chemicals or to sterilize
medical equipment.
You can be exposed to ethylene oxide if you live or work near an industrial facility that produces
or uses ethylene oxide that is emitted into the air. Typically, these plants are located in or near a
town, causing the entire population to be exposed as potentially unacceptable levels.
You can also be exposed to ethylene oxide if you work at a facility that uses or produces
ethylene oxide. 3
1 Source: National Cancer Institute- last accessed March 28, 2022. https://www.cancer.gov/about-
cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/ethylene-oxide.
2 https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-09/eo-20210923_epawveto_presentation_final.pdf.
3 https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/ethylene-oxide
Congress has classified ethylene oxide as a “hazardous air pollutant.” This means that ethylene
oxide is airborne and can be harmful when inhaled.
Short term exposure to ethylene oxide can cause eye, skin, and throat irritation. It can also
cause headaches and nausea.
Long term inhalation exposure is also dangerous. The National Toxicology Program of the U.S.
government has recognized ethylene oxide as a known carcinogen, or in other words, it can
cause cancer. 4 Studies have shown that ethylene oxide can cause cancer in animals. Studies of
workers from facilities that use or manufacture ethylene oxide have also shown an increased
cancer risk. In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reevaluated ethylene oxide
and increased the cancer risk estimate, or the “unit risk estimate” by 30 times. Unfortunately,
ethylene oxide is even more dangerous for children because it can damage DNA. 5
What Kind of Cancer Does Ethylene Oxide Cause?
According to the EPA, long term exposure to ethylene oxide may increase the risk of the
following types of cancer:
These cancers can affect adults and children. The longer you have been exposed to ethylene
oxide by breathing in air around industrial facilities that emit ethylene oxide, the greater your
risk. Your risk also increases the closer you live to or work in an industrial facility.
As a “hazardous air pollutant,” the EPA can set limits on the amount of ethylene oxide that a
factory can emit into the air. However, the EPA has not set a standard for the amount of
ethylene oxide that can be in the outdoor air. The EPA has estimated that ethylene oxide can
survive in the air for at least 70-149 days, depending on the season. 6 Ethylene oxide is not likely
4 https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/ethyleneoxide.pdf
5 https://www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide/our-current-understanding-human-health-
and-environmental
6 https://www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide/frequent-questions-basic-information-
about-ethylene-oxide
to break down when it rains. It can also be moved by the wind, especially when it is very warm
outside.
This means that ethylene oxide can be build up in the outdoor air over time with very too little no
oversight. Unfortunately, it is not likely you know if you have been exposed to ethylene oxide. As
the National Cancer Institute reports, ethylene oxide is colorless, so you cannot see it in the air. 7
It has a “sweet odor,” but that odor may not be recognized.
The EPA just released a list of approximately 100 facilities that currently or previously emitted
ethylene oxide. More information is available at this link. https://www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-
pollutants-ethylene-oxide/ethylene-oxide-commercial-sterilization-facilities. The full list is below.
American Contract Systems, Inc.
7300 W. Detroit Street
Chandler, AZ
Stryker Sustainability Solutions
10232 S. 51st Street
Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas
Baxter Healthcare Corporation
1900 North Highway 201
Mountain Home, AR
California
Microvention, Inc.
35 Enterprise
Aliso Viejo, CA
7 https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/ethylene-oxide.
Life Science Outsourcing, Inc.
830 Challenger Street
Brea, CA
Parter Medical Products Inc.
17115 Kingsview Avenue
Carson, CA
Sterigenics US, Inc.
4801-63 50th Street
Los Angeles, CA
NASA-Ames Research Center
Moffett Field
Mountain View, CA
Blue Line Sterilization Services
401 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Unit C
Novato, CA
Sterigenics US, LLC
687 Wanamaker Avenue
Ontario, CA
American Contract Systems Inc.
14528 Meridian Parkway, Ste B
Riverside, CA
The Jackson Laboratory
1650 Santa Ana Avenue
Sacramento, CA
Steris Isomedix Services Inc.
7685 Saint Andrews
San Diego, CA
Auris Health
2383 Bering Drive
San Jose, CA
Genentech, Inc.
460 Point San Bruno Boulevard
South San Francisco, CA
St. Jude Medical CRMD
15900 Valley View Court
Sylmar, CA
Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
26531 Ynez Road
Temecula, CA
Steris, Inc.
43425 Business Park Dr.
Temecula, CA
Colorado
LivaNova
14401 W. 65th Way
Arvada, CO
Western
5421 Western Ave
Boulder, CO
Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
11308 W. Collins Avenue
Lakewood, CO
Jorgensen Labs, Inc.
2211 West 8th Street
Loveland, CO
Connecticut
Covidien LP
195 McDermott Road
North Haven, CT
Florida
Arthrex Manufacturing Inc Finishing
6861 Arthrex Commerce Drive
Ave Maria, FL
Fort Myers Facility
11600 Adelmo Lane
Fort Myers, FL
International Sterilization Laboratory
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
217 Sampey Road
Groveland, FL
Medtronic ENT
6743 Southpoint Dr N
Jacksonville, FL
Oscor, Inc.
4875 Alternate 19 North
Palm Harbor, FL
American Contract Systems, Inc.
7802 E Telecom Pkwy
Temple Terrace, FL
Georgia
Sterigenics U.S. LLC
2971 Olympic Industrial Court SE, Suite 116
Atlanta, GA
Sterilization Services of Georgia
6005 Boat Rock Boulevard
Atlanta, GA
KPR U.S. LLC d/b/a Kendall Patient Recovery U.S., LLC
1430 Marvin Griffin Road
Augusta, GA
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
8195 Industrial Boulevard
Covington, GA
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
1211 Mary Magnan Boulevard
Madison, GA
Iowa
American Contract Systems, Inc.
1601 SE Gateway Drive, Suite 120
Grimes, IA
Illinois
Medline Industries
1160 South Northpoint Boulevard
Waukegan, IL
Indiana
Cook Incorporated
6330 North Matthews Drive
Ellettsville, IN
Massachusetts
Isomedix Operation, Inc.
435 Whitney Street
Northborough, MA
Professional Contract Sterilization, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
40 Myles Standish Boulevard
Taunton, MA
Maryland
Fuchs North America
3800 Hampstead Mexico Road
Hampstead, MD
Elite Spice, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
1415 Magellan Drive
Hanover, MD
Elite Spice, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
7151 Montevideo Road
Jessup, MD
Trinity Sterile, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
201 Kiley Drive
Salisbury, MD
Maine
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME
The Jackson Laboratory
21 Kingsland Crossing
Ellsworth, ME
Minnesota
Cardiac Pacemakers Inc/Boston Scientific
4100 Hamline Ave N
Arden Hills, MN
Medtronic Physiological Research Lab PRL
1385 115th Ave NW
Coon Rapids, MN
STERIS Inc.
380 90th Avenue Northwest
Coon Rapids, MN
Medtronic Inc – Rice Creek
7000 Central Ave NE
Fridley, MN
Interventional Cardiology
One Scimed Place
Maple Grove, MN
3M – R & D Facility – Maplewood Bldg 201
I‐94 & McKnight Road
Maplewood, MN
Missouri
Midwest Sterilization Corporation
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
1204 Lenco Avenue
Jackson, MO
American Contract Systems
2610 NE Industrial Dr Ste 220
North Kansas City, MO
North Carolina
Sterigenics US, LLC
10821 Withers Cove Park Drive
Charlotte, NC
Andersen Scientific
1001 Aviation Pkwy Suite
Morrisville, NC
Centurion Medical Products Corporation
3310 South Main Street
Salisbury, NC
Nebraska
Becton Dickinson Pharmaceutical Systems
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
920 E 19th Street
Columbus, NE
New Jersey
Cosmed Group Inc dba Cosmed of NJ
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
19 Park Drive
Franklin, NJ
ETO Sterilization-Plant #2
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
2500 Brunswick Ave
Linden, NJ
Steris Isomedix Services Inc
3459 S Clinton Ave
South Plainfield, NJ
New Mexico
Sterigenics-Santa Teresa, NM
2400 Airport Road
Santa Teresa, NM
Nevada
Elite Spice, Inc.
1225 E. Greg Street #102
Sparks, NV
New York
Long Island Sterilization
175 Wireless Blvd
Hauppauge, NY
Sterigenics US LLC
84 Park Road
Queensbury, NY
Ohio
American Contract Systems, Inc.
85 Shaffer Park Drive
Tiffin, OH
Oklahoma
LEMCO Ardmore
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
3204 Hale Road
Ardmore, OK
Pennsylvania
B Braun Med Inc/Allentown
901 Marcon Blvd
Allentown, PA
Cosmed Group LLC/Erie
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
2205 E 33rd Street
Erie, PA
American Contract Systems
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
4040 Jackson Pointe Court, Building 4000
Zelienople, PA
Puerto Rico
Edwards Lifesciences Technology Sàrl
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
Parque Industrial Carr. PR-402, Km. 1.4 N
Añasco, PR
St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico, LLC.
Carr 682 Int Santana Industrial Park Bo. Santana
Arecibo, PR
Guidant Puerto Rico, B.V. (dba Boston Scientific Puerto Rico)
Road 698 lot No. 12
Dorado, PR
Customed, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
Carretera Igualdad #7
Fajardo, PR
Medtronic Puerto Rico Operations Company (MPROC Juncos)
Carr. PR-31, Km 24.4
Juncos, PR
Steri-Tech, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
Carretera 701 Km 0.7 Salinas Industrial Park
Salinas, PR
Medtronic PR Operation Co.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
Carr. 151, Bo. Villalba Arriba
Villalba, PR
Rhode Island
Boston Scientific Corporation
8 Industrial Drive
Coventry, RI
South Carolina
STERIS-Isomedix Services
2072 Southport Road
Spartanburg, SC
South Dakota
3M Company
601 22nd Avenue South
Brookings, SD
Tennessee
Sterilization Services of Tennessee
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
2396 Florida Street
Memphis, TN
DeRoyal Industries, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
1135 Highway 33 South
New Tazewell, TN
Texas
Steritec, Inc.
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
1705 Enterprise Street
Athens, TX
Dynatec Scientific Laboratories
11940 Golden Gate Rd
El Paso, TX
Isomedix Operations, Inc.
1435 Isomedix Place
El Paso, TX
Isomedix Operations, Inc.
1175 Isuzu Pkwy
Grand Prairie, TX
Sterigenics U.S. LLC
1302 Avenue T
Grand Prairie, TX
American Contract Systems, Inc.
7702 Parnell St
Houston, TX
Midwest Sterilization Corporation
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
12010 General Milton
Laredo, TX
Ethicon, Inc.
3348 Pulliam Street
San Angelo, TX
Utah
Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilization Plant
5725 West Harold Gatty Drive
Salt Lake City, UT
BD Medical
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
9450 South State Street
Sandy, UT
Virginia
Central Virginia Health Network
2521 Brittons Hill Road
Richmond, VA
Sterilization Services of Virginia
As of July 27, 2022 EPA’s risk assessment has shown that cancer risk due to EtO
emissions from this facility is at or above the level of 100 additional cancer cases per
million people exposed.
5674 Eastport Boulevard
Henrico, VA
Lifenet Health
1864 Concert Drive
Virginia Beach, VA
Lifenet Health
5733 Bayside Rd – Suite 104
Virginia Beach, VA
West Virginia
ALCON – Advance Optic Device Center North
2 Vision Lane
Lesage, W
ProPublica, a non-profit journalism group, released its findings that compiled various data to
determine potential for increased cancer risks. The data included information provided from chemical plants themselves as well as information reported to the government. As described by ProPublica, the “result is an unparalleled view of how toxic air blooms around industrial facilities and spreads into nearby neighborhoods.” ProPublica described ethylene oxide as the “biggest contributor to excess industrial cancer risk from air pollutants nationwide.” All told, ProPublica identified more than a thousand hot spots of cancer-causing air. It also identified twenty super-hot spots. This means if you live and/or work within one of ProPublica’s identified hot spots,
your risk of cancer may be substantially higher. You can view ProPublica’s map online for free. If you or a loved one have lived near a facility that emits ethylene oxide and have developed cancer and would like to speak with an attorney, please contact us.