Across the country, toxic chemical exposure has given rise to cancer hotspots. The data clearly shows that people who live and work near the spice sterilization plant in Linden, NJ, have an increased risk of cancer.
Residents and long-time workers in this area are now moving forward with EtO lawsuit claims. The financial compensation you receive from your claim could help you afford the best cancer treatment and keep your family afloat if your illness prevents you from working.
The experienced New Jersey toxic exposure attorneys at Console & Associates, P.C. will fight to get you the compensation you deserve—at no upfront cost. To get started with a free consultation and EtO lawsuit case review, call (866) 778-5500 today.
Because of air pollution related to EtO sterilization, Linden, NJ, now has a higher than average lifetime cancer risk, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in July 2022.
EtO Sterilization Plant #2, otherwise known as the Cosmed-ETO Sterilization-Plant #2, is located at 2500 Brunswick Avenue in Linden, NJ, north of Interstate 278. This commercial sterilization facility first opened in Union County in 1986 and is home to four sterilizers that use EtO to sterilize spices, nuts, and other agricultural products.
The EtO Sterilization Plant #2 in Linden uses a two-stage scrubbing control system in an effort to minimize EtO gas leak emissions and reported a 99% emission reduction rate, according to the New Jersey Monitor. Yet these efforts still haven’t been enough to prevent toxic EtO gas from polluting the air around the facility and, in turn, increasing the lifetime cancer risk of people exposed to the contaminated air.
A risk assessment conducted by the EPA determined that in the areas that most closely surround EtO Sterilization Plant #2 in Linden, the maximum increased risk level is up to 20 times what is considered to be an elevated cancer risk.
The EPA identified 23 commercial sterilization facilities where the surrounding areas were determined to have an elevated lifetime cancer risk of at least 100 additional cancer cases per million people exposed, which translates to 1 additional cancer case per 10,000 people. EtO Sterilization Plant #2 in Lindon is one of these facilities.
In the areas closest to the facility—shown in dark blue on this map that illustrates the areas where the EPA has estimated the greatest increases in lifetime cancer risk—the EPA has estimated that as many as 20 additional cancer cases could develop per 10,000 people exposed.
As the EPA has noted (and illustrated through its map), the level of increase in lifetime cancer risk is generally highest in the immediate vicinity of the facility and “decreases with distance from the facility.” Those living close to the sterilization plant and working in the facility long-term tend to have the most elevated risk of developing cancer.
Still, it’s worth noting that the location of the Linden facility—less than 20 miles from New York City—could potentially put at risk an even greater number of people. The Daily Mail reported in February 2023 that the Linden facility, along with another EtO sterilization facility in South Plainfield, NJ, is “close enough to impact part of New York City.” Together, the two facilities “may expose around 690,915,” The Daily Mail reported—although those living within a few miles of the Linden, NJ, facility have the greatest likelihood of a significant increase in their lifetime cancer risk.
We are here to help.
EtO, or ethylene oxide, is a colorless and typically odorless gas made up of molecules of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It’s also a known human carcinogen, or a cancer-causing substance, according to the EPA.
Ethylene oxide is used at more than 100 facilities across the United States for purposes such as chemical manufacturing and commercial sterilization of medical equipment and consumer products.
The EtO Sterilization Plant #2 in Linden is used to sterilize spices, the EPA reported.
Ethylene oxide’s potential to cause cancer in humans is well established through the results of scientific research studies.
Not only does the EPA now consider EtO a human carcinogen—a substance known to cause cancer—but the agency changed the toxicity value it uses in conducting risk assessments in 2016. This change was based on new evidence that indicated that ethylene oxide is “60 times more toxic than the previous estimate.”
The types of cancers that have been most strongly linked to ethylene oxide exposure, according to the EPA, are:
Find out more about cancer diagnoses linked to EtO exposure.
How does exposure to ethylene oxide cause a person to develop cancer? When inhaled on a long-term basis, ethylene oxide is capable of damaging DNA. This characteristic is what makes the chemical both an effective sterilization agent and a dangerous carcinogen, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Depending on the specific type and subtype of cancer a person is diagnosed with, the stage at which they are diagnosed, and other health and risk factors, the prognosis for your cancer battle may be good or poor. Some of the subtypes of cancers that have been linked to EtO exposure have high survival rates and can even be fully cured, while for others, the outlook is bleaker.
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and treatment using new drugs being tested in clinical trials are all among the forms of treatment a cancer patient may undergo. Additionally, bone marrow transplants and specialized chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy can be used to treat blood cancers. Surgery may be an option for patients with breast cancer.
Even if you have a comparatively good prognosis and your body responds to treatment well, getting diagnosed with cancer is life-changing. The pain and suffering that arise from a cancer battle are significant. Many families struggle to afford the medical care the patient needs, without which your prognosis is worse. While you are sick, you may not be able to work, which can make the financial burden you’re facing even more daunting.
Every patient who has reason to suspect that long-term EtO exposure caused their cancer deserves answers and the opportunity to get the financial compensation they’re entitled to.
Know your legal options.
If you want to file an EtO cancer lawsuit, you’re going to need an experienced attorney on your side. Law firms handling ethylene oxide matters, like Console & Associates, P.C., often have decades of experience practicing personal injury law and standing up for the rights of the injured, including those harmed by toxic exposure.
The first step in filing a lawsuit against the company that owns a facility linked to elevated cancer risks from EtO exposure is conducting a thorough investigation. Your legal team will handle this for you, gathering the data to prove that the company is liable, or legally responsible, for the damages you have suffered.
Your EtO lawsuit attorney will also document and calculate the full amount of your damages to make sure your claim for compensation covers all of the harms and losses you have suffered.
Throughout your case, your attorney will represent you in all legal proceedings and navigate the legal process for you. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve, whether through an out-of-court settlement, arbitration, mediation, or trial.
Most of the hundreds of EtO toxic exposure lawsuits currently in progress meet two criteria:
If you don’t have a history of exposure or you haven’t been diagnosed with a relevant form of cancer, you may not be able to pursue a case at this time. For those cancer patients and their families who believe they may meet these criteria, the next step is to speak to an EtO lawsuit attorney.
Given the financial burdens a cancer battle can cause, it’s no surprise that potential plaintiffs are often worried about how much suing for toxic EtO exposure will cost. At Console & Associates, we represent all of our clients on a no-win, no-fee basis. You’ll pay nothing upfront for our legal representation and nothing at all for our services unless and until we successfully get financial compensation for you.
If you’re ready to find out more about your legal options and potentially move forward with an EtO lawsuit claim, we’re ready to help. Just call (866) 778-5500 or contact us online today for a free, confidential consultation.
