Sterigenics Willowbrook Lawsuit Overview: Serious Health Effects Linked to EtO Exposure
The Sterigenics Willowbrook plant, a medical sterilization facility located in Willowbrook, Illinois, operated from 1984 until its closure in 2019.
The facility utilized ethylene oxide (EtO), a potent sterilizing agent, to sterilize medical devices.
EtO is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), indicating sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.
In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted air monitoring around the Willowbrook facility and detected elevated levels of EtO in the surrounding community.
The EPA’s risk assessment concluded that long-term exposure to EtO emissions from the Sterigenics plant could increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including breast cancer, lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Residents living near the facility reported a range of health issues, leading to numerous lawsuits against Sterigenics and its parent company, Sotera Health.
In 2022, a Cook County jury awarded $363 million to a woman who developed breast cancer after living near the plant for decades.
Subsequently, in 2023, Sterigenics agreed to a $408 million settlement to resolve hundreds of lawsuits related to EtO exposure from the Willowbrook facility.
In April 2025, Sotera Health (Sterigenics’ parent company) settled an additional 97 cancer claims for $30.9 million.
Key points regarding the Sterigenics Willowbrook facility and associated health concerns:
- Facility Operations: The plant operated from 1984 to 2019, using EtO to sterilize medical equipment.
- Hazardous Emissions: EPA monitoring in 2018 revealed elevated EtO levels in the surrounding community.
- Health Risks: Long-term exposure to EtO is linked to increased risks of breast cancer, lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Legal Actions: A significant jury award and subsequent settlements addressed claims from residents who developed cancer and other health complications.
- Regulatory Response: The Illinois EPA issued a seal order in February 2019, leading to the facility’s closure in September 2019.
The EPA’s risk assessment estimated that local residents living near the facility faced lifetime cancer risks as high as 1,000 in 1 million, significantly exceeding the agency’s acceptable risk threshold of 100 in 1 million.
If you have suffered from toxic exposure related to ethylene oxide emissions at the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility, you may be eligible to file a Sterigenics Lawsuit and seek financial compensation.
Contact TorHoerman Law today for a free consultation.
Use the chat feature on this page to find out if you qualify for a Sterigenics Lawsuit instantly.
Emissions Data for the Sterigenics Willowbrook Plant
As we’ve established, the Sterigenics Willowbrook plant, operated by Sterigenics International, utilized ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical equipment.
EtO is a toxic gas classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted air monitoring around the facility and detected elevated levels of EtO in the surrounding community.
The EPA’s risk assessment concluded that long-term exposure to EtO emissions from the Sterigenics plant could increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including breast cancer and lymphohematopoietic cancers (lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma).
Prior to the implementation of enhanced emission controls in 2018, the Sterigenics Willowbrook facility emitted approximately 4,000 pounds of EtO annually.
Following the installation of additional pollution controls to reduce emissions in July 2018, emissions were projected to decrease substantially.
In a modeled future scenario where all emission points were routed through a single 87-foot stack equipped with control devices, annual emissions were estimated to be around 26 pounds .
Ultimately, the facility ceased operations on September 30, 2019, leading to an estimated reduction of over 4,600 pounds of EtO emissions per year.
Ambient Air Monitoring Data for the Company’s Willowbrook Facility
Between November 2018 and March 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted ambient air monitoring around the Sterigenics facility.
Findings include:
- At the two monitoring sites closest to the facility, average EtO concentrations were slightly over 2 micrograms per cubic meter, with peak readings reaching 10 to 11 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Community-oriented monitors located downwind recorded EtO concentrations occasionally as high as 1.7 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Upwind community monitors generally measured EtO concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 micrograms per cubic meter.
Environmental Protection Agency Health Risk Assessment
The EPA’s risk assessment, based on pre-2019 operational data, indicated elevated cancer risks for individuals residing or working near the facility.
Specifically, estimated lifetime cancer risks ranged from 200 to 1,000 cases per million people in areas adjacent to the facility.
In contrast, a hypothetical future scenario with stringent emission controls projected risks below 100 cases per million, potentially as low as 1 case per million .
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) concluded in July 2018 that if the measured and modeled EtO concentrations represented typical ambient levels, there was an elevated cancer risk for residents and offsite workers in the Willowbrook community, constituting a public health hazard.
Regulatory Actions and Facility Closure
In response to the identified health risks, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a seal order in February 2019, effectively halting operations at the Sterigenics Willowbrook facility.
Subsequently, Sterigenics announced the permanent closure of the facility in September 2019.
Health Effects of Ethylene Oxide Exposure
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, flammable gas widely used in sterilization processes and chemical manufacturing.
Classified as a human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), EtO poses significant health risks, particularly with long-term exposure in both occupational and community settings.
These exposure risks encompass both cancerous and non-cancerous health effects.
Types of Cancer Linked to Ethylene Oxide Exposure
Long-term ethylene oxide exposure—particularly in residential areas near industrial sterilization facilities—has been strongly associated with several types of cancer.
Scientific and regulatory bodies have identified EtO as a potent carcinogen, with risks that often exceed the national average in affected communities.
Breast Cancer
Studies have demonstrated a significant association between EtO exposure and an increased incidence of breast cancer in women.
A retrospective cohort study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) involving 17,530 workers from 13 U.S. sterilization facilities found elevated breast cancer risks among female employees exposed to EtO.
Cancers of the White Blood Cells
Prolonged exposure to EtO has been linked to an increased risk of hematologic cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia.
These cancers affect the white blood cells, which are integral to the body’s immune system.
The EPA has identified a correlation between EtO exposure and elevated cancer risks in populations residing near facilities emitting this chemical.
Non-Cancer Health Conditions and Effects Linked to EtO Emissions
While cancer risks are the most publicized, ethylene oxide exposure can also lead to a range of serious non-cancer health effects.
These outcomes often affect the nervous, immune, and reproductive systems, especially in individuals exposed over long periods through ambient air in community or occupational settings.
Neurological Impacts of Ethylene Oxide Emissions
Chronic exposure to EtO can lead to neurological symptoms such as impaired coordination, memory loss, and peripheral neuropathy.
Workers exposed to EtO levels averaging 4.7 ppm over several years exhibited cognitive and motor impairments compared to unexposed individuals.
Reproductive and Genetic Effects
EtO exposure has been associated with reproductive health issues and genetic mutations.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that long-term exposure may result in reproductive effects and mutagenic changes, underscoring the importance of stringent exposure controls in occupational settings.
Respiratory and Irritative Symptoms
Acute exposure to high concentrations of EtO can cause respiratory irritation, including coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Even at lower concentrations, individuals may experience headaches, nausea, and fatigue.
These symptoms highlight the need for proper ventilation and protective measures in environments where EtO is present.
Regulations Implemented and Actions Taken to Reduce Emissions and Risk of EtO Exposure
In response to the significant health risks associated with ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure—classified as a human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer—federal agencies have enacted comprehensive regulations and initiatives to mitigate emissions and protect public health.
EPA’s Strengthened Emission Standards
In April 2024, the EPA finalized stringent regulations targeting EtO emissions from both commercial sterilization facilities and chemical manufacturing plants.
Provisions include:
- Commercial Sterilizers: Nearly 90 facilities are now required to implement advanced pollution controls, achieving a 90% reduction in EtO emissions. These measures are projected to lower lifetime cancer risks in surrounding communities to below the Clean Air Act benchmark of 100 cases per million people exposed.
- Chemical Plants: Over 200 chemical manufacturing facilities must reduce emissions of EtO and other toxic chemicals by approximately 80%. The regulations mandate enhanced monitoring and emission control technologies, significantly decreasing the number of individuals with elevated cancer risks near these plants.
Monitoring and Transparency
For decades, the medical sterilization company Sterigenics has released toxic chemicals into surrounding communities without warning.
To ensure compliance and inform the public, the EPA has instituted rigorous monitoring requirements:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Measures to Protect Workers
In light of advances in monitoring and scientific data around the health implications of EtO emissions, OSHA and other agencies are doing more to protect workers in these medical sterilization facilities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces strict standards to safeguard workers from EtO exposure:
- Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs): OSHA has set the 8-hour time-weighted average PEL for EtO at 1 part per million (ppm), with a short-term exposure limit of 5 ppm over any 15-minute period.
- Monitoring and Medical Surveillance: Employers are required to monitor EtO levels in the workplace and provide medical surveillance for employees exposed above the action level, ensuring early detection and prevention of adverse health effects.
Do You Qualify for the Sterigenics Willowbrook Lawsuit?
TorHoerman Law is actively investigating cancer claims associated with exposure to ethylene oxide emissions at and near the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility.
If you or a loved one received a cancer diagnosis after living, working, or attending school near the plant, you may be eligible to file a claim.
Evidence suggests that emissions from Willowbrook operations exposed thousands of residents to unsafe levels of a known carcinogen over several decades.
Sterigenics owns and operated the facility under scrutiny and has faced significant legal pressure due to community health impacts.
Claims may also be available to families who have lost loved ones to cancer believed to be linked to these emissions.
A wrongful death lawsuit may provide compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills, and emotional suffering.
Our legal team is reviewing personal injury and wrongful death cases connected to ethylene oxide exposure in the area.
If you suspect that Sterigenics emissions played a role in your cancer diagnosis, we encourage you to contact us for a free case evaluation.
Gathering Evidence for an Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit
Building a strong case for an ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure lawsuit requires detailed, fact-based evidence connecting your health condition to prolonged exposure.
This includes both medical documentation and environmental factors tied to the source of the emissions.
Your legal team will work to establish proximity, duration, and the link between your diagnosis and the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility.
Evidence May Include:
- Medical records confirming a cancer diagnosis or related health condition
- Residential or employment history near the Willowbrook facility
- Air monitoring data and EPA findings on local EtO concentrations
- Expert testimony linking exposure to specific health outcomes
- Toxicological reports on ethylene oxide and its effects
- Records showing dates of Willowbrook operations
- Documentation of funeral expenses or loss of income in wrongful death claims
Damages in Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Lawsuits
In a lawsuit, “damages” refer to the financial compensation a plaintiff seeks for losses caused by another party’s actions or negligence.
In the context of toxic exposure lawsuits—such as those involving ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from the Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook—damages aim to address the physical, emotional, and economic consequences of prolonged chemical exposure.
These claims are often based on medical diagnoses, life disruptions, and financial hardship tied to cancer or wrongful death.
Common Damages Claimed in EtO Exposure Lawsuits:
- Medical expenses (past and future treatment, testing, and specialist care)
- Lost wages or diminished earning capacity due to illness
- Pain and suffering caused by cancer or other health complications
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Costs associated with relocating to avoid continued exposure
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death claims
- Loss of consortium or companionship for surviving family members
- Punitive damages, where appropriate, to hold companies accountable for egregious misconduct
TorHoerman Law: Ethylene Oxide Lawyers
At TorHoerman Law, we believe that no one should suffer the devastating consequences of toxic chemical exposure without recourse.
Our legal team is committed to holding Sterigenics and other responsible parties accountable for the harm caused by ethylene oxide emissions.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after living or working near the Willowbrook facility, you may have a valid claim.
We combine extensive experience in toxic tort litigation with a compassionate, client-focused approach.
Let us help you pursue justice, financial compensation, and a measure of accountability for what you’ve endured.
Contact TorHoerman Law today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
We are here to answer your questions, review your evidence, and guide you through every step of the legal process.
You can also use the chat feature on this page for an instant case evaluation to find out if you qualify for the Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit.
