By Treven Pyles on October 24th, 2025 in Ethylene Oxide
Cancers associated with EtO exposure have extended latency periods that typically span 10 to 20 years. During these years, cancers form internally while showing few or no symptoms. Although external warning signs may be absent, the hazardous chemical damages genetic material, causing mutations, chromosomal defects, and DNA strand breaks linked to cancer.
Lymphoma and leukemia are the most common cancers associated with EtO exposure. Breast cancer and lymphohematopoietic cancers, such as myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, can also be caused by long-term exposure. In most studies, latency periods between exposure to EtO and the development of EtO-related cancers are estimated to be between 10 and 20 years.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reported the emergence of several cancers between 10 and 15 years or more after occupational EtO exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noted that solid tumors, common during malignancies like breast cancer, demonstrated a 20-year lag period, significantly longer than lymphohematopoietic cancers' 10-year latency. A separate 2011 study mentioned a general induction latency of 15 years or more for lymphohematopoietic and breast cancers.
Different cancer types demonstrate varying latency periods:
For individuals filing EtO claims, latency periods are significant because they can establish a connection between one's illness and exposure. It allows claimants to seek compensation regardless of the length of time that passes from exposure to disease onset. The order of events, including when exposure took place and when diagnosis occurred, should align with known latency periods.
Even if you have been diagnosed with an ethylene oxide-related disease prior to the stipulated latency period, you may still be eligible to file a claim for compensation. The latency period is determined by research on specific populations. Regulatory agencies, epidemiologists, and public health experts use this range to determine the minimum latency periods, which allows legal action even if the disease did not have a latency period.
In order to reconstruct a chronological sequence of events that is true to scientific fact, there must be a verifiable paper trail of medical records. Test results, diagnoses, and treatments can provide tangible evidence that you developed an EtO-linked disease within a reasonable period of time.
When it comes to filing an EtO claim, it can be overwhelming, especially due to all the factors that need to be considered and all the paperwork that needs to be gathered. The toxic exposure attorneys at Environmental Litigation Group can review your case, recommend which documents to prioritize, and suggest the best next step. Having decades of experience in toxic exposure cases, our compassionate legal team knows the complexities of EtO claims and can assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.