Allentown, Pennsylvania, is in the spotlight, but not for the right reasons. In a recent lawsuit, B. Braun Medical is accused of knowingly emitting Eethylene Oxide (EtO), a known carcinogen, into the atmosphere for decades. EtO is used to sterilize medical devices, but the colorless and odorless chemical is extremely toxic to breathe. Residents of Allentown are up to 200 times more likely to contract cancer than elsewhere in Pennsylvania due to the extremely high EtO emissions from B. Braun Medical.
The lawsuit alleges that B. Braun Medical’s release of EtO into the atmosphere has caused a significant increase of cancer cases in the Allentown area. Several people have already died, and many others are joining the suit because of their cancer diagnosis and their proximity to B. Braun Medical. Over 150 residents with cancer who live or work near the B. Braun plant have joined the suit. It is anticipated that there will be many more cases as more become sick on a daily basis.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which conducted EtO studies in 2016, ethylene oxide is even more dangerous in its ability to cause cancer than previously thought. The EPA concluded that EtO is 30 times more carcinogenic than first believed, and that it increased the risk of breast and lymphoid cancer as well as many other types of cancer.
Over the years, B. Braun Medical emitted a dangerous amount of EtO into the atmosphere and in fact, B.Braun is responsible for 92% of all EtO released in Pennsylvania. In 2014 they emitted 6,880 pounds while the only other location releasing EtO in the region was St. Luke’s University Hospital, which released 17 pounds that same year.
In 2016, the EPA released a management alert calling for prompt action, and new EtO emission standards are expected to be released in 2023.
Finally, in 2020 B. Braun installed filters in its building that allegedly reduced EtO emissions by 99%, although by then, thousands of pounds of EtO had already been released into the atmosphere.
Of further concern is that EtO can change the DNA in a cell, and children may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of mutagenic substances.
Cancers Contracted Linked to EtO Emissions
Various cancers have been linked to EtO emissions and include:
Plaintiffs to the lawsuit are from diverse backgrounds and live in Allentown, Bethlehem, Coopersburg, Kunkletown, Northampton, and Whitehall Township. All those involved lived or worked close to the B. Braun plant.
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