By Treven Pyles on April 20th, 2026 in Ethylene Oxide
Nearly 15 percent of the Minnesota population lives within a few miles of a sterilization facility that emits toxic ethylene oxide gas. If you have lived in Anoka County or nearby areas like Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park, or Andover, you may qualify for an ethylene oxide claim for cancer.
Over 800,000 residents in Minnesota are living within five miles of at least one sterilization facility, potentially exposing them to toxic emissions of ethylene oxide gas. There are six ethylene oxide-emitting facilities in Minnesota, and Anoka County residents live just a few miles away from the Steris Applied Sterilization Technologies in Coon Rapids. This major facility works with multiple device manufacturers, and daily operations include trucks coming in and out to load and unload sterilized devices.
Unlike industrial sites located in remote areas, the Coon Rapids Steris facility is deeply integrated into the local community. The Union of Concerned Scientists considers parts of Anoka County as high-risk zones because the Steris Inc. facility’s four-mile exposure zone overlaps with densely populated residential areas. This includes established neighborhoods like Thompson Heights as well as the high-traffic areas of 90th Avenue and Butternut Street.
The facility’s location means that emissions are not just drifting into residential areas, but also into crowded community spaces. Families in this area frequently visit community spaces like Sand Creek Park, and children attend nearby schools. Because this facility has been operational for decades, multiple generations of Anoka County students and residents may have experienced cumulative exposure to these toxic air pollutants.
Ethylene oxide is a uniquely dangerous pollutant because it is a mutagenic alkylating agent. EtO enters the bloodstream and can physically alter human DNA. This makes the gas very effective in killing microorganisms in medical devices, but also makes it dangerous for workers and residents. This damage is cumulative, meaning that every year spent living near a facility like Steris adds to a person's lifetime toxic load. In many cases, this cellular damage leads to biological age acceleration.
The health effects of EtO exposure are likely to remain invisible for years because these cancers have long latency periods. This delay means that a person who grew up near the Coon Rapids facility in the 1980s or 90s may only receive a diagnosis much later in life. Even if you have moved away from Anoka County, years of exposure as residents of these high-risk zones may still be a strong factor in filing an ethylene oxide claim for cancer.
You may be eligible for a claim if you lived within approximately four miles of the facility and later developed any of the following medical conditions:
If you or your family lived near Steris Inc. in Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park, or Andover and are now facing a cancer diagnosis, ELG Law can help you explore your legal options. Our environmental exposure attorneys can assess your history to determine if you are qualified to pursue compensation for a cancer diagnosis based on your exposure history. We only need to review your medical records (cancer diagnosis) and proof of residence to determine your eligibility, and we can file an ethylene oxide exposure claim on your behalf if you’re eligible.