Sterigenics Willowbrook Cancer Map | Estimates Based on Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Health Risks of Ethylene Oxide Emissions from the Sterigenics Willowbrook Plant

Understanding the risk profile for communities near the Willowbrook plant requires looking at both distance (how close someone lived, worked, or attended school) and duration (how long or how often exposure to the sterilizing agent occurred).

In its risk assessment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated lifetime cancer risks for individuals exposed to ambient air from the facility.

The agency assumed a scenario of continuous inhalation exposure for 70 years in residential settings to approximate worst-case cumulative effects.

Because the facility handled large volumes of ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemically reactive gas used to sterilize medical devices and now classified as a human carcinogen, communities and workers exposed nearby face significant health risks.

Many studies have found that long-term inhalation of EtO is linked to cancers of the white blood cells, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia, as well as breast cancer and other lymphohematopoietic cancers.

Ethylene oxide exposure risks are not uniformly distributed.

Factors like prevailing wind direction, emission points (e.g., chamber vents, back-vents, aeration rooms), and topography can concentrate toxic air in certain downwind neighbourhoods.

In addition to cancer risks, non-cancer health effects such as peripheral neuropathy, memory loss, impaired coordination, and respiratory irritation have been observed or flagged in health agency reviews, especially among residents and workers with higher exposures.

Below are specific health risks and effects that people living within approximate radiuses of 1 mile, 2.5 miles and 5 miles around the Willowbrook facility may face, and how these effects tend to develop or manifest:

• Elevated cancer rates: Long-term exposure to ambient EtO in downwind zones is linked to breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other lymphohematopoietic cancers.
• Respiratory system effects: Chronic inhalation of low-level EtO can lead to throat and lung irritation, coughing, and in high-exposure scenarios pulmonary edema or more serious lung damage.
• White blood cell / hematologic changes: Studies in occupational settings show EtO can alter white blood cell counts, affecting immune response and increasing mutation risk in hematologic tissues.
• Neurologic effects: Residents and workers exposed to higher concentrations of EtO may experience symptoms such as memory loss, impaired hand-eye coordination, neuropathy, numbness or tingling in the extremities.
• Reproductive & developmental toxicity: Animal and worker studies suggest EtO exposure can affect reproductive organs, fetal development and cause genetic changes that precede major disease onset.

Residents within the first one-mile radius of the sterilization plant typically faced the highest average exposure levels and therefore the greatest likelihood of elevated health risks.

From 1 to 2.5 miles, risk decays but remains elevated depending on direction and meteorological conditions; by 5 miles, risk is reduced but not negligible, especially in areas under consistent downwind conditions and weaker emission controls.

This detailed risk profile shows how toxic substances from commercial sterilization facilities like the Sterigenics Willowbrook plant can cause real and measurable harm in ambient air for neighbouring communities and exposed workers.

Environmental Factors That Influence Ethylene Oxide Exposure Risks

Environmental factors play a critical role in determining how far released ethylene oxide (EtO) travels and where it accumulates, turning a chemical leak into a potential public health hazard for nearby communities.

The Environmental Protection Agency has classified ethylene oxide as a cancer-causing chemical, meaning that even low concentrations of this colorless gas can contribute to elevated cancer risk and other serious health effects.

At the Sterigenics Willowbrook plant, for example, persistent hazardous emissions from sterilizing equipment and associated aeration chambers created conditions that public health advocates say amplified exposure in downwind neighborhoods.

Terrain, prevailing wind patterns, atmospheric stability (such as inversion layers), and proximity to emission points interact in unpredictable ways, so two homes at the same distance from the facility may face vastly different risks.

Some areas ended up with significantly higher ambient air concentrations of EtO than model averages, particularly when the sterilizing agent was vented without enhanced emission controls.

Beyond cancer, subsidiary risks such as peripheral neuropathy, respiratory irritation, and reproductive toxicity arise more frequently in zones where emission mitigation was weak or delayed.

Federal and state agencies now recognize that communities and workers exposed within a 1- to 5-mile radius of commercial sterilization facilities are among the most vulnerable to both cancer-linked and non-cancer health conditions.

The effectiveness of emission control upgrades (testing filters, installing scrubbers, monitoring fence-lines) can dramatically alter the exposure profile, yet gaps in implementation mean many affected neighborhoods still face higher levels of risk.

An Overview of the Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility Lawsuits

The now-closed Willowbrook sterilization plant has become the focus of significant litigation after communities raised concerns over prolonged exposure to the colorless gas Ethylene Oxide (EtO) and documented adverse health effects.

Plaintiffs alleged that emissions from the facility led to elevated cancer rates, including individuals who developed breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and other lymphohematopoietic cancers after years of living nearby.

In one landmark verdict, a Cook County jury awarded $363 million to a single plaintiff who had a cancer diagnosis tied to her proximity to the plant.

In January 2023 Sterigenics agreed to a settlement of approximately $408 million to resolve more than 870 claims stemming from the Willowbrook facility.

The lawsuits underscore the community health impacts of EtO emissions and reflect a wider trend of residents seeking financial compensation from commercial sterilization facilities that used hazardous substances for medical device sterilization.

Even though the plant is no longer operating, legal counsel continues to explore remaining and future claims tied to its historical emissions and associated safety risk exposures.

Key developments surrounding the Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility and associated lawsuits:

• $363 million jury verdict (2022) awarded to a woman who developed breast cancer after living near the Willowbrook plant.
• $408 million settlement (January 2023) to resolve 870+ Ethylene Oxide claims linked to the Willowbrook facility.
• July 2025 term sheet: Sterigenics enters agreement to resolve an additional 129 EtO claims in Illinois.
• Company maintains no admission of liability, although the settlement covers hundreds of cases related to emissions-based claims.
• Closure of the Willowbrook sterilization plant in 2019 following state regulatory orders and monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency.

At TorHoerman Law, we are actively reviewing potential claims connected to the Sterigenics Willowbrook facility, including individuals diagnosed with cancer or other serious health conditions after exposure to EtO emissions, even though the facility has been closed since 2019.

Our legal team continues to monitor developments and gather evidence that may qualify impacted residents or former workers to seek compensation.

We understand the challenges of proof in exposure cases and are prepared to assist claimants with documenting their exposure, establishing proof of harm, and navigating litigation timelines.

If you believe you were exposed and later developed health conditions tied to the Willowbrook facility, it is essential you speak with experienced counsel promptly.

Gathering Evidence for a Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit

Building a strong ethylene oxide lawsuit requires clear and verifiable evidence showing a connection between exposure and illness.

Individuals pursuing claims related to the Sterigenics plant should collect documentation that demonstrates proximity to emissions, medical proof of harm, and records linking the timeline of exposure to a serious illness.

Lawyers often rely on a combination of environmental testing data, witness accounts, and health documentation to establish liability in toxic exposure cases.

The following types of evidence can help strengthen an EtO claim:

• Medical records confirming diagnosis of cancer or other EtO-related illnesses, such as breast cancer or lymphocytic leukemia.
• Proof of residence, school, or employment near the Sterigenics facility during active emission periods.
• Air quality and environmental testing data showing elevated ethylene oxide levels in the surrounding area.
• Government reports or regulatory filings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Illinois EPA linking emissions to public health concerns.
• Expert testimony from medical and environmental specialists connecting EtO exposure to the plaintiff’s health condition.
• Personal statements or affidavits detailing symptoms, treatment history, and quality-of-life impacts after exposure.

Damages in a Sterigenics Lawsuit Claim

In lawsuits involving the Sterigenics sterilization plant, plaintiffs in cancer cases linked to the facility have secured substantial compensation for harms caused by toxic emissions.

A landmark case in 2022 resulted in a $363 million verdict for a woman who developed breast cancer after long-term exposure, which included $38 million in compensatory damages and $325 million in punitive damages.

In January 2023, the company settled roughly 870 claims for $408 million, reflecting the serious exposure and community health impacts tied to the facility’s operations.

These outcomes demonstrate how courts recognize the real burden of medical bills, lost wages, emotional suffering and other harms when surrounding communities and workers were exposed to ethylene oxide.

Each claim is unique, and compensation varies based on diagnosis severity, proximity and duration of exposure, and other factors.

Potential damages in a Sterigenics lawsuit claim:

• Medical expenses: coverage of past and future cancer treatments, surgeries, diagnostic testing, medications
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity due to illness and treatments
• Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages: loss of companionship, funeral costs, and support for surviving family members
• Punitive damages: awarded in cases of willful misconduct, designed to punish the responsible company’s actions

If you or a loved one developed cancer or another serious illness after living, working, or attending school near a Sterigenics facility, you may be eligible to seek compensation for this harm.

TorHoerman Law: Investigating the Sterigenics Willowbrook Plant

The Sterigenics Willowbrook facility may have closed in 2019, but its impact on the surrounding community continues to raise serious health and environmental concerns.

Hundreds of residents have filed claims alleging that long-term exposure to ethylene oxide emissions from the plant caused them to develop breast cancer, lymphocytic leukemia, and other life-threatening illnesses.

At TorHoerman Law, we continue to investigate the legacy of contamination left by this facility and pursue justice for families affected by years of toxic exposure.

Our legal team reviews medical and environmental evidence, partners with health experts, and builds comprehensive claims for those harmed by Sterigenics’ operations.

TorHoerman Law remains committed to holding corporations accountable when their medical sterilization practices and hazardous emissions endanger public health.

Every case we handle represents a step toward transparency, accountability, and safer communities across Illinois and beyond.

If you or a loved one lived or worked near the Sterigenics Willowbrook plant and later developed cancer or other serious health conditions, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free case evaluation or use the chat feature on this page to find out if you qualify for an Ethylene Oxide lawsuit today.