In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency determined that the Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc. in Lakewood, Colorado put workers and nearby residents at an increased risk of developing cancer. However, Terumo stands by its use of EtO, claiming it can continue to use the known carcinogen as a safe way to sterilize medical devices. Meanwhile, thousands of residents in Lakewood, CO, are expressing concerns about the increased risk of cancer based on the EPA’s study.
If you live or work in Lakewood, Colorado, you may have unknowingly been breathing air that contains elevated amounts of EtO. There is no dispute that inhaling EtO over the long-term subjects you to an increased risk of developing cancer. However, while Terumo acknowledges that EtO can pose significant health risks, the company continues to use this dangerous chemical. As we’ve discussed in related posts, companies that choose to use hazardous chemicals in the manufacturing process have a legal duty to ensure that residents of the surrounding areas are not subjected to dangerous levels through airborne emissions.
Can Lakewood Residents Sue Terumo Based on an EtO-Related Cancer Diagnosis?
Yes, residents in Lakewood, Colorado, who develop cancer may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against Terumo seeking compensation for the impact that their diagnosis had (and will continue to have) on their lives. However, it is too early to tell if Terumo will be held financially liable for residents’ harms. That said, residents who recently learned of otherwise unexplainable cancer diagnoses may be interested in learning more about the various EtO class action lawsuits that have been filed by similarly situated residents.
What Is Ethylene Oxide?
Ethylene Oxide, more commonly referred to as EtO, is an odorless, colorless chemical that is used by many agricultural and manufacturing companies due to its disinfectant properties. In fact, those companies that use EtO consider it a “critical” sterilization agent, and the Food and Drug Administration notes that up to 50 percent of all surgical tools in the United States are treated with EtO. However, EtO is also a known carcinogen.
For decades, the EPA permitted manufacturers to use ethylene oxide up to certain levels. However, over recent years there have been many reports that EtO causes cancer, and in 2016, the EPA revised its guidelines after concluding that EtO is 60 times more toxic to children and 30 times more toxic to adults than previously thought. Currently, the EPA is conducting a registration review for EtO, a process all pesticides must go through every 16 years.
Does EtO Cause Cancer?
Yes, according to multiple government studies conducted by various agencies, Ethylene Oxide is a known carcinogen. Most of the known cases of cancer that have been linked to Ethylene Oxide are blood cancers, such as lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia; however, studies have also connected high levels of EtO exposure to other forms of cancer, including:
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Breast cancer,
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Bladder cancer,
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Brain cancer,
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Breast cancer,
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Kidney cancer,
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Ovarian cancer,
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Pancreatic cancer,
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Prostate cancer, and
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Stomach cancer.
How Are People Exposed to Ethylene Oxide?
According to the EPA, inhalation is the most common way people are exposed to EtO. Based on this, workers at plants using EtO are clearly among the groups who are most at risk. However, so too are Lakewood residents who live near the Terumo BCT Sterilization plant.
However, Lakewood, CO, residents should not necessarily expect to notice any signs of EtO exposure because the concentration of EtO in the outside air is probably not high enough to cause immediate symptoms. However, over the long term, Lakewood residents who are exposed to Ethylene Oxide may develop serious health problems, such as cancers of the white blood cells, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia. Studies also show that long-term exposure to EtO increases the risk of breast cancer in women. While anyone who is exposed to EtO can develop long-term health issues, based on the most recent studies, children are at a greater risk than adults.
Are Lakewood, Colorado Residents at Risk of Elevated EtO Exposure?
Yes, the EPA designated 23 areas in the United States where EtO exposure is elevated. On July 27, 2022, the EPA added Lakewood, Colorado to this list due to the presence of EtO in the atmosphere. More specifically, the EPA noted 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.” In other words, an estimated one in 10,000 residents who would not necessarily have otherwise developed cancer will do so because of EtO exposure.
Does Terumo Admit Using EtO?
Yes, in fact, Terumo created a web page dedicated to informing the public about the company’s use of EtO, noting that EtO is the “only viable sterilization option for many important medical devices” and that the company believes “that EtO can be used responsibly with sterilization processes that are both safe and effective.”
What Is Terumo Doing to Reduce EtO Emissions?
According to Terumo’s page dedicated to EtO FAQs, Terumo is in full EPA compliance with all EtO regulations. Thus, it appears that the company is not doing anything to reduce EtO emissions further. In fact, the company cites a study conducted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in claiming that there is “no increase in actual cases of cancer surrounding the facility when compared to the state of Colorado.” However, this seemingly contradicts a study conducted by the EPA, which noted that the area surrounding the Terumo plant in Lakewood, Colorado puts residents at an increased risk of developing cancer.
