Decades of ethylene oxide operations and escalating health threats in Henrico
The Henrico community has been exposed to significant levels of ethylene oxide from Sterilization Services of Virginia for over three decades. In 2021 alone, this facility released more than 5,000 pounds of this carcinogenic gas, operating within state permit limits of 4.3 tons.
The EPA's comprehensive risk assessment has classified this facility among the 23 most dangerous commercial sterilizers in the United States based on ethylene oxide emission levels. Risk modeling demonstrates that residents living within two to three miles of the facility face lifetime cancer risks of 100 in a million or greater, with some areas showing risks as extreme as 1 in 1,000. ProPublica's independent analysis found average lifetime cancer risks around the facility of approximately 1 in 1,800, which exceeds the EPA's acceptable risk threshold by more than five times.
The demographic composition of the affected area raises serious environmental justice concerns. Approximately 32,000 people live within three miles of the Sterilization Services facility, including over 8,400 children under age 17. The surrounding population includes disproportionately high numbers of low-income residents, with at least one elementary school located within the highest risk zone, along with numerous residential neighborhoods and local businesses.
EPA analysis reveals that ethylene oxide emissions from the Sterilization Services facility contribute up to 69 percent of the total cancer risk from air toxics in the facility's census tract. There are still significant health risks associated with the facility despite the installation of multiple emission control systems. Although the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is working with the facility to implement additional control measures, thousands of residents and workers have been exposed already for decades.
ELG Law stands ready to fight for ethylene oxide victims
ELG Law can help you pursue financial compensation if you worked or lived near the Henrico facility of Sterilization Services of Virginia for a minimum of 12 months and suffer from cancer caused by exposure to ethylene oxide. Our services are also available to bereaved families whose relatives died from illnesses caused by ethylene oxide exposure.
Taking legal action begins with providing our team with your employment records or proof of local residence, alongside medical files that document your condition. Our attorneys will investigate every aspect of how Sterilization Services of Virginia's operations may have harmed your health.
ELG Law operates exclusively on contingency fees, meaning you owe nothing upfront and pay only when we win your case. Let us handle the legal battle against this corporation while you concentrate on what matters most, your well-being and that of your loved ones.