By Michael Bartlett on April 13th, 2026 in Ethylene Oxide
Recent studies have found that Utah residents may be facing elevated cancer risk from ethylene oxide exposure. These investigations include sampling at nearby residential areas like Hidden Valley Park. If you lived near Gambel Oak or Hidden Valley, you may be eligible for an ethylene oxide claim for cancer.
The BD Medical Facility at 9450 South State Street was acquired by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) in 1986. For at least four decades, the facility has been sterilizing medical equipment using a colorless gas called ethylene oxide (EtO) that has been linked to various health risks, including elevated cancer risk. Before regulations came into effect, facilities like BD Medical Facility have been releasing this toxic gas into the air, endangering the health of nearby residents.
There are two sterilization facilities located in Utah, namely the Sterigenics facility and the BD Medical facility. BD Medical, in particular, is surrounded by residential communities in a populated area. While concentrations are particularly high near the facility, the emissions can extend into nearby residential areas within four miles, like in Hidden Valley and Gambel Oak.
In fact, Hidden Valley Park was a specific site for EtO air sampling by the Utah Division of Air Quality and the University of Utah in 2022. They found that ethylene oxide concentrations vary due to environmental factors. Concentrations were affected by "mountain flow", where emissions are affected by wind and mountainous terrain (whether upslope or downslope). They also found that EtO concentrations were twice or thrice as high in the summertime as in the wintertime. These huge variations show that residential areas, even those that are a few miles away from sterilization facilities, may be more deeply affected by emissions than what published industry statistics show.
Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen and mutagen, which means that it is associated with increased cancer risk by causing DNA damage. This particular property of EtO is what makes it essential to the medical sterilization industry, allowing it to kill pathogens in medical equipment. However, the effects on the health of workers and residents are highly dangerous and likely to remain invisible for many years. This is because cancer has a latency period of about 10 to 30 years, so someone who grew up in Gambel Oak or Hidden Valley may not realize the effect of EtO emissions until they are diagnosed with cancer in their 30s to 50s.
You may qualify for an ethylene oxide claim against BD Medical Facility if you lived within four miles of the facility and later developed any of the following medical conditions:
If you believe you meet the requirements for an ethylene oxide claim as a resident of Gambel Oak, Hidden Valley, and other nearby areas, we highly urge you to consult with an ELG Law attorney. We only need to check your medical records (cancer diagnosis) and proof of residence to determine if you are eligible for an ethylene oxide claim. If you are qualified, our environmental exposure attorneys can handle the filing on your behalf as you focus on your treatment and recovery.