Children and ethylene oxide: Assessing cancer risks and legal overview

EtO, a colorless and highly flammable gas, has found many applications and uses in modern life. Most notably, it serves as a key component for manufacturing sterilizing agents for medical and dental equipment. However, over the years, scientists discovered it can cause harm to human health. Due to its mutagenic properties, or its ability to alter or potentially damage human DNA, it has been classified as a carcinogen.

The link between EtO exposure and cancer diagnosis among children

There had been multiple studies linking EtO exposure with certain types of cancer, such as:

• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer (male, female)
• Stomach cancer

Much of the research examining the impact of EtO exposure on health only focuses on adults, particularly industrial workers in factories and plants using this toxic chemical product. Recent reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), however, found an even more alarming concern. They suggested that children may have a higher risk of developing cancers associated with EtO exposure.

Experts stated that children may even be more vulnerable to EtO-related cancers compared to adults due to the following reasons.

• Incomplete development: As they grow, children's DNA divides at a more rapid rate. Constant exposure to EtO means they are more prone to DNA damage, which can further lead to cancer.
• More opportunities for exposure: This particularly applies to those residing and studying near EtO-using facilities. In fact, the EPA stated that children face cancer risk levels of one in a million if they attend school or daycare near a sterilization facility, and are exposed to EtO with an average daily concentration of 1.2 ppt.

Furthermore, health risks can be much greater for adults who have already been exposed to EtO during childhood. Some industrial plants had been using and producing EtO for decades. This means that adults who grew up in these areas may potentially have been exposed to the harmful chemical throughout their childhood. According to the EPA, the "contribution to lifetime cancer risk from a single year of exposure to ethylene oxide is greater if that year occurred during childhood."

Compensation options for children struggling with cancers tied to EtO exposure

Parents or other family members whose children suffered from severe health conditions as a result of constant EtO exposure can file for toxic exposure claims. Doing so, they have the chance to secure compensation that can greatly help their child's recovery and treatment.

Adults diagnosed with cancers connected to prolonged exposure to EtO as a child may also seek compensation. Successful claims mean that they may be entitled to receive several compensation options, which include:

• Compensation for medical expenses, including treatment, surgery, and other necessary medical services
• Emotional suffering
• Loss of wages, current and future (for adults)
• Wrongful death (for family members who lost a loved one)

Before starting the claims process, you must also meet certain sets of criteria, such as the following.

• Must be diagnosed and show medical proof of any of the linkable diseases.
• Must provide residential records indicating your proximity to any EtO-using facilities

Let us assist you in filing your EtO exposure claims

We can also lend a helping hand to parents and adults filing EtO exposure claims on behalf of their children. For over 30 years, we have been providing legal support to dozens of individuals in their toxic exposure claims. Let our experienced and compassionate team handle the case so you can focus on your child's health. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.