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California Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit Attorneys

Medical instruments.

Key Aspects of Ethylene Oxide Lawsuits

  • Carcinogen: The Environmental Protection Agency classifies ethylene oxide (EtO) as a human carcinogen.
  • Health risks: EtO exposure is linked with serious health issues, including cancers such as lymphoma, lymphatic leukemia, multiple myeloma and breast cancer, and possibly birth defects.
  • Ethylene oxide emissions: The lawsuits center on allegations that facilities owned by companies such as Sterigenics emitted dangerous EtO gas, causing people to develop long-term health issues.
  • Targeted facilities: Lawsuits have been filed against companies who manufacture EtO or use it at commercial sterilization plants.
  • Legal claims: Plaintiffs usually claim that companies have been negligent by failing to adequately control EtO emissions, or by failing to warn workers and residents about known health risks.
  • High-risk areas: Communities who live near EtO sterilization plants have higher cancer risk levels than the national average, and are also at risk of developing other serious health conditions.

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a toxic gas used to sterilize medical equipment and produce chemicals like ethylene glycol. Long-term exposure has been linked to cancers such as lymphoma, breast cancer, and leukemia. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed after exposure, Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you file an ethylene oxide lawsuit to recover compensation.

Across the country, lawsuits have been filed against companies like Sterigenics for exposing workers and nearby communities to unsafe levels of EtO. Juries have already awarded millions of dollars to victims.

Our hazardous exposure lawyers  have over 35 years of experience helping toxic exposure victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and wrongful death. We’ve secured over $750 million for clients and have the experience in helping those exposed to toxic chemicals to recover the most compensation possible for you.

Note: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and results depend on its specific facts.

We don’t charge victims of toxic chemicals any fee until we win their case. The only fee you will ever owe us is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you.

Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to ethylene oxide.
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Latest Update

August 16, 2026 Update

One putative Puerto Rico class action was severed on August 13 by Judge Camille L. Vélez-Rive into three cases that are facility-specific: Castro-Moreno v. Customed, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01522; Vargas-Gratacós v. Medtronic P.R., Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01521; and Pérez-Maceira v. Steri-Tech, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01520.

The plaintiffs are alleging that emissions of ethylene oxide from sterilization facilities in Fajardo, Villalba and Salinas caused emotional or physical injuries.

The related cases aren’t an MDL. This order doesn’t establish causation or certify a class.

Amended complaints are due by September 4 and the defendants need to plead by October 5.

Prior Updates

Do I Qualify for an Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit?

Factors which can qualify you for a lawsuit include:

  • You or a loved one lived near or worked in a sterilization facility that emits EtO
  • You or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer or other serious health effects tied to the exposure
  • Family members of deceased victims may qualify for wrongful death claims

Cancers which may be linked to EtO exposure include:

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Leukemia
  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Multiple myeloma

Contact us if you think you qualify for a lawsuit.

What Is Ethylene Oxide?

EtO is a colorless, odorless gas used for sterilization and chemical production.

It is used to make:

  • Antifreeze
  • Detergents
  • Plastics
  • Textiles
  • Adhesives

It is also used to sterilize medical and dental equipment.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies EtO as a Group 1 human carcinogen.

The chemical is regulated by the EPA and OSHA due to elevated cancer risks.

Locations of Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Facilities

Click here for an interactive map showing 104 facilities which use and release EtO.

Click here for a full list of commercial sterilization facilities which use EtO.

Health Effects of Ethylene Oxide Exposure

Medical instruments.

Short-term effects of EtO exposure can include:

  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness

Long-term exposure to EtO has been linked with numerous cancers, including:

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Myeloma
  • Lymphocytic leukemia
  • Breast cancer in women

Those who work in facilities directly handling EtO are at a particularly high risk of developing cancer. However, anyone who is regularly exposed to EtO in the long-term is at-risk.

Children are thought to be more at-risk since EtO can damage DNA.

EtO exposure can also cause birth defects in pregnant women.

Symptoms of EtO Exposure

Symptoms of EtO exposure include:

  • Skin and eye irritation, such as rashes, redness or a burning sensation
  • Respiratory irritation, such as shortness of breath, wheezing or chronic cough
  • Neurological symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, memory loss, headaches or dizziness
  • Gastrointestinal tract symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting or nausea
  • Reproductive or hormonal issues, such as fertility problems or irregular menstrual cycles
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Immune suppression leading to infections
  • Long-term organ damage
  • Cancer

What Compensation Can Victims of Ethylene Oxide Exposure Recover?

If you have become ill after being exposed to EtO, our law firm can help you recover financial compensation for:

Medical Bills

If you have developed health problems due to EtO, you may already owe money in the form of medical expenses, and you may incur future medical expenses related to treatment you’ll need in the future. Our firm can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical bills related to your illness.

Lost Wages

Your illness may have caused you to be too sick to work for a period of time. You may have also had to take time off from work to have your illness treated. We can help you recover financial compensation for any wages you aren’t able to earn due to your illness.

Loss of Earning Capacity

Your illness may have caused you to be disabled, and this disability may represent a loss or reduction of your earning capacity. Our firm can help you obtain a recovery to compensate you for any reduction or loss of your earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering

You may have experienced physical pain and mental suffering due to your illness, and you may suffer pain and suffering in the future because of it as well. Our lawyers can accurately calculate your pain and suffering and make sure you’re fairly compensated for it.

Wrongful Death

If you lost a loved one due to exposure to EtO, unfortunately, financial compensation won’t be able to bring back your loved one. However, it can help make sure your family doesn’t have to go through financial hardship because of the loss of your loved one.

We can help you recover compensation for:

  • The pain and suffering your loved one went through prior to their death
  • Your loved one’s medical bills, burial costs and funeral costs
  • Losing your loved one’s love, companionship, consortium, income and household services

Punitive Damages

Sterigenics has known for a long time that its plants were emitting carcinogenic EtO but failed to warn people about it. We will seek punitive damages on your behalf to punish Sterigenics or another company for this conduct, maximize your financial recovery and deter other companies from behaving similarly in the future.

Examples of Sterigenics Lawsuits and Ethylene Oxide Payouts and Settlements

  • $408 million: In 2023, Sterigenics agreed to a $408 million settlement to resolve multiple lawsuits filed by Illinois residents who were exposed to EtO emitted by the company’s facility in Willowbrook.
  • $363 million: In 2022, a plaintiff was awarded $363 million in a lawsuit that alleged she developed breast cancer after being exposed to EtO from the Willowbrook Sterigenics plant.
  • $35 million: In 2023, Sterigenics agreed to a $35 million settlement to resolve lawsuits related to a cluster of cancers allegedly stemming from a Sterigenics plant near Atlanta.

Deadline to File an Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit

There is a deadline to file a lawsuit over exposure to EtO. That deadline is known as a statute of limitations and varies by state.

For example, the statute of limitations in California for cases like these is two years from the date you discovered that your illness was caused by exposure to EtO. For wrongful death cases, the time limit is two years from the date you discovered that your loved one died due to exposure to EtO.

However, exceptions to this time limit exist. Some lengthen the time limit and others shorten it.

Calling us today for a FREE consultation allows us to file a lawsuit quickly to preserve evidence and increases the odds of your case being a success.

Regulations on Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Research on the Health Impacts of Ethylene Oxide

  • The Environmental Protection Agency provides a webpage which covers the health risks associated with EtO.
  • The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry provides a clinician brief regarding EtO. It indicates that even exposure to low levels of EtO can lead to hematological effects and DNA damage.
  • The OSHA Fact Sheet regarding EtO highlights the carcinogenicity of EtO, as well as the chemical’s association with neurotoxicity, genetic damage and reproductive effects.
  • The EPA’s evaluation of carcinogenicity linked with the inhalation of EtO reinforced EtO’s classification as being a human carcinogen.
  • A 2004 NIOSH study found an association between EtO exposure and lymphoid tumors in males, and an association between EtO exposure and breast cancer in females.

How Our Ethylene Oxide Attorneys Can Help

The lawyers at our law firm can help you by:

  • Evaluating your eligibility for an ethylene oxide claim
  • Connecting your medical diagnosis with your exposure history
  • Filing a lawsuit against all responsible companies
  • Fighting to maximize your financial compensation
  • Negotiating with companies or their insurers
  • If necessary, representing you in court
  • Not charging you any upfront fees, as we only charge a percentage of the money we recover for you

FAQs

Is Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Safe for Humans?

EtO sterilization is considered to be safe for patients as long as equipment gets properly processed.

However, EtO sterilization presents health risks to exposed workers as well as communities near sterilization facilities, as long-term exposure can lead to:

  • Cancer
  • Reproductive and developmental effects
  • Neurotoxicity

How Much Exposure to Ethylene Oxide Is Dangerous?

EtO is a flammable, colorless gas which can harm human health. How much exposure to EtO is considered dangerous can depend upon numerous factors, including:

  • Concentration: The risk is higher when the concentration of EtO is higher.
  • Duration of exposure: Even low EtO levels can be harmful when exposure is prolonged, such as in the cases of those living near sterilization plants, those working in sterilization plants, or ethylene oxide production workers.
  • Route of exposure: EtO can be ingested, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled.

According to OSHA, the permissible exposure limit regarding workplace EtO is an eight-hour time-weighted average of one part per million.

A limit of 0.5 parts per million over an eight-hour workday is recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

Exposure to EtO beyond these limits can cause health effects including:

  • Throat, nose and eye irritation
  • Respiratory issues like pneumonia or bronchitis
  • Hematological changes like anemia
  • Cancer, especially lymphoma and leukemia
  • Developmental and reproductive problems

Exposure to low levels of EtO can increase cancer risks. Those exposed to EtO, especially ethylene oxide workers, should take precautions in order to minimize risk, like following safety guidelines and wearing protective equipment.

Is Ethylene Oxide a Carcinogen?

Yes. Multiple agencies consider EtO to be a known human carcinogen, including the EPA, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the National Toxicology Program.

EtO increases the risk of blood cancers such as myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as the risk of female breast cancer.

Evidence of carcinogenicity includes:

  • Human studies: Studies done on workers exposed to EtO on a long-term basis show a higher risk of breast cancer, lymphocytic leukemia, myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Animal studies: Studies done on lab animals have showed that exposure to EtO is associated with a higher risk of numerous cancers, including leukemia.
  • Mechanisms: EtO can damage DNA. It can cause chromosomal aberrations, which are linked to higher risks of cancer.

What Kind of Cancer Is Associated With Ethylene Oxide?

Ethylene oxide is associated with lymphoid and hematopoietic cancers, including lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

It is also associated with breast cancer in women.

How Does Ethylene Oxide Cause Cancer?

  • Alkylating agent: EtO is an alkylating agent and a very reactive chemical.
  • DNA damage: The reactivity of EtO lets it directly interact with as well as damage DNA, genes and chromosomes in cells.
  • Genetic mutations: The damage EtO does to DNA causes chromosomal aberrations and mutations in genes.
  • Cellular dysfunction: Damaged genetic material may lead to cellular dysfunction as well as the formation of tumors.

How Much Ethylene Oxide Causes Cancer?

No amount of exposure to EtO is considered to be completely safe.

The risk of cancer development is linked with the duration and level of exposure over one’s lifetime. Long-term exposure to low levels of EtO increases the risk of cancer.

A person who breathes air with 1 microgram of EtO per cubic meter over a lifetime of 70 years has an estimated increase in cancer risk of five in 1,000.

What Companies Are Being Sued for Ethylene Oxide Exposure?

Numerous companies have been the subject of lawsuits alleging that EtO exposure has caused people to develop cancer, including:

  • Sterigenics
  • Steris
  • C.R. Bard
  • Midwest Sterilization Corp.
  • B. Braun
  • Professional Contract Sterilization

Who Can Be Held Liable in an Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit?

Parties that can be held liable in EtO lawsuits include:

  • Sterilization companies
  • EtO manufacturers
  • Employers who fail to protect workers or residents

Contact Our Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawyers Today

Medical instruments.

We have been representing victims of toxic exposure for over 35 years and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients. We can help you seek financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more.

You will never owe us a single penny out of your own pocket, as our only fee is a percentage of the money that we recover for you when we win your case.

Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to EtO.

Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit Updates

September 7, 2025 Update

An investigation is being done into if nearby residents have been affected by ethylene oxide emitted from a Fort Myers, Florida facility.

In 2023, it was found that an American Contract Systems facility in Fort Myers was emitting the human carcinogen.

In 2023, American Contract Systems installed air cleaning systems which they claim reduce emissions by almost 100 percent.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s December 2024 inspection found that the cancer risk was under 100 in one million.

August 18, 2025 Update

A new study has found that exposure to ethylene oxide can lead to problems sleeping.

The researchers determined that a “strong link” exists between higher levels of ethylene oxide in the blood and sleep disturbances, especially in those between the ages of 40 and 60.

August 6, 2025 Update

A new study shines a light on workers exposed to ethylene oxide in the United States.

The researchers collected and analyzed data which was collected from 1979 to 2020 in order to characterize occupational exposure to EtO in “key industries and occupations.”

The researchers found that about 46 percent of samples exceeded the recommended exposure limit set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and that about 18 percent of samples exceeded NIOSH’s permissible exposure limit.

70 percent of samples which were collected from industrial sterilization facilities exceeded NIOSH’s recommended exposure limit.

August 1, 2025 Update

Residents of Allentown, PA have sued the medical company B. Braun over emissions of EtO.

The 16 residents have cancer and accuse B. Braun of carelessly collecting and emitting EtO.

July 28, 2025 Update

Eastman Chemical Company is now facing a lawsuit which claims that local residents have suffered severe health consequences, including breast cancer, due to EtO emissions from the company’s facility in Longview, Texas.

The plaintiffs claim they were exposed to toxic ethylene oxide unknowingly while working, living or spending time in close proximity to the plant.

The lawsuit alleges that Eastman self-reported over 565,000 pounds of EtO being discharged by the facility by 2022.

July 2, 2025 Update

Six former teachers at Hinsdale South High School in Illinois have sued Sterigenics, alleging they got cancer because they were exposed to EtO from the company’s facility in Willowbrook.

Five of the plaintiffs allege they developed breast cancer due to the emissions, and one of the plaintiffs alleges she developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

June 19, 2025 Update

A recent investigation by WRAL found that five warehouses in North Carolina store devices which off-gas EtO.

One of the warehouses is only 1,100 feet away from homes.

The warehouses store devices which have been sterilized using EtO. Devices sterilized with EtO can off-gas the chemical for days or even weeks.

According to the investigation, emissions from warehouses storing sterilized devices are not tracked or regulated by the federal government or the State of North Carolina.

May 21, 2025 Update

A judge in Georgia has ordered a retrial focusing on punitive damages following the conclusion of a EtO lawsuit which led to C.R. Bard being ordered to pay a plaintiff $20 million in compensatory damages.

The retrial has been ordered because a juror admitted that they returned the same verdict as the rest of the jury despite not personally agreeing with the decision to award $50 million worth of punitive damages to the plaintiff.

The new trial will solely focus on punitive damages. Even if the new trial finds that the plaintiff should not be awarded any punitive damages, the plaintiff will still be awarded the $20 million in compensatory damages which the previous trial ordered.

The trial involved a truck driver who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, then alleged that exposure to EtO while he drove deliveries for an EtO sterilization plant in Georgia caused his cancer.

March 24, 2025 Update

Steris Corporation agreed to pay as much as $48.15 million in order to resolve lawsuits relating to EtO emissions from its former Waukegan, Illinois sterilization facility.

Plaintiffs alleged that emissions from the facility from 2005 and 2008 endangered public health.

February 18, 2025 Update

Medical device manufacturer Braun agreed to a confidential settlement to resolve most lawsuits which allege that its facility in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania emitted toxic levels of EtO.

The plaintiffs had alleged that exposure to EtO led to an increased risk of illnesses including breast cancer and lymphoma.

May 22, 2024 Update

Sterigenics and Sotera Health agreed to pay $35 million in a settlement to resolve lawsuits which alleged that Sterigenics’ facility in Cobb County, Georgia emitted EtO which caused health problems including cancer.

January 10, 2023 Update

Sterigenics announced a $408 million settlement relating to lawsuits alleging that the company’s Willowbrook, Illinois plant emitted EtO, endangering the welfare and health of thousands of Willowbrook area residents.

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