Sterigenics Atlanta Cancer Map | Estimates Based on Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Health Risks of Ethylene Oxide Emissions from the Sterigenics Plant in Atlanta/Smyrna

Understanding the risk profile for people who live or work near the Sterigenics Smyrna facility means looking at both distance (how far away someone is) and duration (how long or how often exposure has been happening).

According to Georgia Environmental Protection Division modeling, ambient air concentrations of ethylene oxide (EtO) around the plant exceed “Acceptable Ambient Concentrations” in many downwind areas under certain weather conditions.

The EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) and its technical reviews identified census tracts around Sterigenics Cobb County as having risks well above background for nearby communities.

Long-term exposure to even low levels of released ethylene oxide can lead to increased lifetime cancer risks, especially for those continuously breathing ambient air near the plant.

The risk is not uniform in all directions: prevailing winds, topography, and where emissions escape (chimneys, doors, aeration chambers) shape a plume that tends to carry contaminants farther downwind.

Scientific reviews (including the IRIS inhalation carcinogenicity assessment by EPA) show that EtO is a proved human carcinogen, especially for blood and breast cancers.

In addition to cancer, health agencies like ATSDR are evaluating non-cancer effects in Cobb County, using both air monitoring data and health consultation requests from residents.

Below are specific health risks and effects people living within different radiuses (1 mile, 2.5 miles, 5 miles) around the facility may face, and how these effects tend to develop over time:

• Increased cancer risk: Long-term exposure to EtO has been linked to elevated risks of breast cancer, leukemia (especially lymphocytic leukemia), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other lymphoid cancers. As exposure accumulates over years, the probability of mutation in cells increases.
• Respiratory effects: Coughing, throat irritation, shortness of breath; longer exposures can lead to more serious lung damage. Some studies suggest that in high-concentration events (or for those very near the facility), people may develop inflammation or reduced lung function.
• Higher risk for vulnerable populations: Children, the elderly, people with asthma or other baseline lung disease are more likely to suffer earlier or more severe effects. Continuous exposure (living/work/school) increases cumulative dose.
• Genotoxic effects / DNA damage: EtO is a mutagen; over time in both animals and humans, exposure has been shown to cause chromosomal aberrations and other changes that can precede cancer. IRIS and other EPA documents detail this mechanism.
• Non-cancer systemic effects and medical conditions: Potential for effects on reproductive health, neurological symptoms, immune system suppression—these manifest after prolonged exposure and often with a latency or lag (years after initial exposure).

People living closer (within ~1 mile) are generally going to have the highest average exposure; from 1 to 2.5 miles, risk decays but remains elevated depending on wind/terrain; by 5 miles, risks are lower but not negligible especially under downwind conditions, stable atmospheric layers, and if the facility has had poor emission controls.

Environmental Factors That Influence Ethylene Oxide Exposure Risks

People living in proximity to a sterilization plant like Sterigenics in Smyrna don’t face uniform risk.

Exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) depends heavily on conditions in the air surrounding sterilization facilities and how the facility releases that gas.

Federal and state agencies, including the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have conducted detailed dispersion modeling for EtO from the Sterigenics facility.

That modeling showed that under current emission configurations (especially when fugitive emissions are vented to wall fans rather than roof stacks) ambient levels around residential areas exceed annual Acceptable Ambient Concentrations.

Meteorology plays a crucial role: prevailing wind direction, wind speed, temperature inversions, and atmospheric stability directly affect how far emitted EtO travels, how diluted it becomes, and which neighborhoods are downwind.

Local structures, nearby buildings and even terrain features cause downwash effects, which tend to pull plumes closer to the ground, increasing exposure for communities and workers exposed near those structures.

Stack height and release points matter too: whether EtO is released via roof stacks or lower wall vents changes effective stack height, which in turn changes ground-level concentrations.

The Sterigenics modeling memo compared the “current configuration” (with wall/fan vents) vs a “proposed configuration” where fugitive emissions are collected and released through higher roof stacks and found materially lower predicted exposures in residential areas with the proposed stack setup.

Regulatory design and engineering choices, like the use of scrubbers, back-vent monitoring, maintaining negative pressure in aeration rooms, and controlling leaks, are the other forms of risk mitigation; failure in any of those increases toxic exposure.

Communities and workers exposed under poorer control regimes will encounter higher effective doses.

Because EtO is a cancer-causing chemical with serious effects accumulating over time (often many years), even relatively modest exposures matter if they repeat over months and years, especially for people who are chronically exposed (via home/work/school near the facility).

An Overview of the Sterigenics Lawsuit for Ethylene Oxide Exposure

The Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide litigation in Georgia centers on claims that residents around the Cobb County plant were continuously exposed to airborne emissions of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, over many years.

Many of the personal injury claims allege that exposure to ethylene oxide from the Sterigenics facility caused people to have developed breast cancer and other serious illnesses (such as lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma).

In October 2023, Sterigenics and its parent company Sotera agreed to a $35 million settlement resolving 79 ethylene oxide claims by Cobb County residents; the settlement covers cancer, medical conditions, and property damage.

However, the settlement explicitly states that Sterigenics denies any liability, and the company states the agreement is not an admission that its emissions caused any safety hazard in the surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, Cobb County officials and plaintiffs assert that even after pre-control modeling efforts, levels of EtO in certain downwind areas exceeded acceptable ambient concentrations, creating ongoing risk.

Roughly 400 additional pending claims in Cobb County remain active, many now moving toward trial, as citizens who claim exposure and illness seek accountability.

Among the primary legal allegations is that Sterigenics failed to warn nearby residents or proactively control emissions, even though EPA classification and risk modeling showed elevated cancer risk.

Lawsuits filed against Sterigenics allege negligence, failure to protect public health, and failure to provide notice.

These cases fall under a broader wave of Ethylene Oxide litigation nationwide, in which Sterigenics’ Willowbrook, Illinois facility similarly faced hundreds of claims for illnesses linked to EtO emissions and settled for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Combined, the Georgia litigation seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in some cases restitution for diminished property values.

The lawsuit is still evolving, with general causation hearings and trials scheduled, legal deadlines looming, and continued investigation into emissions data, health outcomes, and corporate practices.

TorHoerman Law is actively representing new clients in the Sterigenics Lawsuits filed in Georgia.

Gathering Evidence for the Sterigenics Lawsuit

Building a strong case against Sterigenics requires crucial evidence that links individual illnesses to ethylene oxide exposure from the Willowbrook and Atlanta facilities.

Our law firm works closely with medical and environmental experts to collect and analyze the data needed for legal action in these mass tort claims.

By securing medical records, air testing data, and proof that the company failed to protect the surrounding environment, we help clients demonstrate the connection between exposure and their serious health conditions.

Evidence in a Sterigenics ethylene oxide exposure case may include:

• Medical Records: Documentation of diagnoses such as breast cancer, lymphocytic leukemia, and other illnesses tied to EtO exposure.
• Air Testing Results: Data showing elevated levels of ethylene oxide in the surrounding environment, including community and facility reports.
• Property and Residence Records: Proof that individuals lived, worked, or attended school near a Sterigenics facility during relevant time periods.
• Expert Testimony: Health experts and environmental scientists who can link illnesses to toxic emissions.
• Regulatory Filings and Reports: Evidence from the EPA, Illinois EPA, or Georgia EPD documenting violations or elevated emissions.
• Company Communications: Records showing how the company failed to warn communities or take adequate steps to reduce emissions.
• Community Testimonies: Statements from residents and workers documenting exposure, odors, and health impacts over time.

Damages in a Sterigenics Lawsuit Claim

In a lawsuit against Sterigenics and its parent company Sotera Health LLC, damages represent the financial and personal compensation sought by individuals who became ill after exposure to ethylene oxide from medical sterilization plants.

These damages are designed to cover both the tangible costs, such as medical bills, and the intangible harms tied to cancer and other life-altering conditions.

Victims and their families may be eligible for different categories of damages depending on the severity of their illnesses, the impact on their livelihoods, and the conduct of the company.

Potential damages in Sterigenics lawsuit claims may include:

• Medical Bills: Coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, cancer treatments, medications, surgeries, and long-term care.
• Lost Wages and Future Earnings: Compensation for income lost due to illness or reduced ability to work.
• Pain and Suffering: Financial recognition of physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.
• Wrongful Death Claims: In cases where individuals died from EtO-related illnesses, families may seek damages for funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
• Compensatory Damages: Awarded to restore financial and emotional stability for victims and their families.
• Punitive Damages: In some cases, courts may impose punitive damages to hold Sotera Health LLC accountable for reckless conduct and deter future misconduct.
• Property Value Losses: Homeowners near Sterigenics facilities may also claim damages for decreased property values linked to toxic emissions.

TorHoerman Law: Investigating the Sterigenics Medical Sterilization Plant

TorHoerman Law is actively representing individuals harmed by toxic emissions from medical sterilization plants across the United States.

The Sterigenics facility in Georgia has drawn national attention for releasing ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical classified by the EPA and IARC.

Our team is actively investigating claims from community members and workers who were exposed and later developed breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and other serious illnesses.

With decades of experience in environmental and toxic tort litigation, TorHoerman Law understands the science, the law, and the devastating impact of exposure to dangerous chemicals.

We continue to pursue justice against Sterigenics and its parent company on behalf of individuals and families living with the long-term consequences of exposure.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious health problems after living or working near the Sterigenics Medical Sterilization Plant, you may be eligible to pursue legal action.

Contact TorHoerman Law today for a free consultation.

There are no upfront costs, and you will only pay if we secure compensation on your behalf.