BASF Geismar ethylene oxide operations and environmental releases
BASF's Geismar facility has been identified as a significant source of ethylene oxide emissions in Louisiana's industrial corridor. According to EPA's 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment, the facility released approximately 7.1 tons of ethylene oxide that year, contributing to elevated cancer risk levels exceeding 100 per million in surrounding census tracts. The facility's 2018 EPA Toxic Release Inventory data shows total on-site releases of 991,798 pounds and off-site releases of 54,242 pounds of various chemicals.
During 2018, BASF declared force majeure due to unexpected equipment failures that temporarily shut down the ethylene oxide production unit. In this incident, ethylene oxide production was highlighted as a potentially hazardous process and as a potential source of uncontrolled releases. Having operated since 1958, the facility has potentially exposed workers and communities near it to ethylene oxide emissions over the past six decades.
However, BASF continues to expand its operations at Geismar, investing $780 million in 2022 to double the production capacity of related chemicals and committing $19.8 million to increase the production of chemical intermediates used in a variety of consumer and industrial products. It raises ongoing concerns about cumulative exposure risks for employees and contractors across BASF's Louisiana operations, given the expansion of ethylene oxide production capacity.
Legal representation for BASF ethylene oxide exposure victims
You may qualify for a free case evaluation if you are a current or former BASF employee, contractor, or community resident who has been diagnosed with cancer or other health problems related to ethylene oxide exposure. With many years of experience handling toxic chemical exposure cases involving industrial facilities, our firm knows the health risks associated with long-term exposure to ethylene oxide.
The attorneys at our firm will investigate your exposure history and work to determine whether BASF Corporation failed to protect workers and communities from this known carcinogen adequately. These cases are handled on a contingency basis, which means you do not have to pay attorneys' fees unless you receive a favorable result.
