Sterigenics Covered Up Emissions, Endangered Employees: Lawsuit

WILLOWBROOK, IL — After a report from CBS News, law firms representing those suffering from health issues allegedly related to emissions from Sterigenics in Willowbrook have issued a statement. A recent report from CBS News shared information from former Sterigenics employees who said they were told to dump ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol into the sewer system.

"The information shared yesterday by former Sterigenics International employees is deeply troubling to our clients and law firms, and should be taken seriously by the citizens of Illinois – especially those living and working near the Sterigenics International plant in Willowbrook," a release from the firms stated.

The law firms said Sterigenics has also shown an utter disregard for the safety of employees within its facility.

"If Sterigenics can’t take care of its own people, it is inconceivable that they would take any precautions to protect those in the community who are faceless and nameless to them."

Former employees told CBS alarm systems were manipulated so they wouldn't know if they were overexposed to the chemicals. Workers also said fumes were sent out into the air without going through the scrubbers which filter the chemical.

"As we learned, Sterigenics’ reports of its emissions are not an accurate representation of the amount of ethylene oxide that has actually gone into the surrounding communities for years," the firms said in a statement. "While Sterigenics is subject to regulations regarding its ethylene oxide emissions, those regulations only cover emissions specifically from the sterilization chambers. As we learned last night, Sterigenics has used additional facilities to store off-gassing product which did not have proper ventilation or pollution controls to capture and filter the ethylene oxide before it was emitted into the atmosphere."

The firms said this creates even greater concern that the levels of ethylene oxide being emitted into the community are far greater than ever reported.

"Additionally, these other locations may expand the zone of danger for surrounding residents as they provide other geographical emission sources of ethylene oxide."

Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., Power Rogers & Smith, L.L.P., The Collins Law Firm, P.C., Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, and Corboy & Demetrio, P.C. are the law firms representing various families and individuals in this matter.

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