Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuit
Chemicals used in manufacturing may be responsible for certain health problems. In this article, we share information about ethylene oxide exposure and related health problems.
What Is Ethylene Oxide?
Ethylene oxide (C₂H₄O) is a gas at room temperature. This gas is flammable and has a slightly sweet odor. Ethylene oxide is harmful to humans. Exposure can lead to specific health problems.
How Are People Exposed To Ethylene Oxide?
Many times, people are exposed to ethylene oxide at work. Ethylene oxide is used to make solvents, antifreeze, detergents, adhesives, and more. Medical product companies, like B. Braun in Allentown, use it to sterilize products and equipment. But, other people might be unknowingly exposed.
When a factory uses ethylene oxide, it may vent the gas outside. People living nearby may be exposed to constant levels of this harmful gas. This repeated and ongoing exposure can cause serious harm to people’s health.
Dangers Of Ethylene Oxide Exposure
People with exposure to ethylene oxide can experience a wide range of immediate symptoms. Symptoms can include:
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- difficulty breathing
- drowsiness
- exhaustion
- burns
- frostbite
When companies vent this harmful gas, it can linger in the surrounding community. This ongoing exposure can lead to several serious health problems, including specific cancers. Health conditions can include:
- miscarriage
- lung cancer
- breast cancer
- lymphocytic leukemia
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- multiple myeloma
- brain cancer
If you have been diagnosed with one of these serious conditions, you should talk to a lawyer. Exposure to harmful chemicals may be responsible for your diagnosis.
Ethylene Oxide Exposure Lawsuits
Not everyone that is exposed to this gas will develop a serious health condition. People with serious health conditions related to ethylene oxide exposure may be eligible for compensation. There are lawsuits against several companies including:
- B. Braun in Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Sterigenics in Willowbrook, Illinois
- Union Carbide in West Virginia
Pennsylvania Companies May Be Responsible
Companies in Pennsylvania may have released harmful amounts of ethylene oxide into communities for decades. These companies may be responsible for the serious health conditions of people in neighboring communities. Companies in Zelienople, Eire, Bethlehem, Allentown, and other areas of Pennsylvania use ethylene oxide to sterilize equipment.
When To Contact An Injury Attorney
If you have a serious health condition related to ethylene oxide exposure, talk to an attorney. An experienced attorney can investigate if your condition is related to exposure.
Contact an attorney at Haggerty & Silverman for a free consultation with an injury attorney. Consultations are free and you pay us anything unless we recover money for you.