Did you live or work near Covington or Smyrna and were diagnosed with cancer? Your cancer may have been caused by hazardous air pollutants.
If you lived or worked full-time within 5 miles of the Sterigenics facility in Smyrna, GA, or the Bard (now Becton Dickinson) sterilization plant in Covington, GA, and you have been diagnosed with any type of blood cancer (e.g. lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, etc.) or breast cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. Fill out the form to learn more.
Over 700 Georgia residents have filed lawsuits alleging that ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from nearby sterilization plants caused their cancer.
In a landmark May 2025 verdict, a Georgia jury awarded $70 million in damages to a former Covington resident, Gary Walker, who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after decades of EtO exposure. This was the first of over 400 lawsuits filed by people living near the Bard plant, with more expected as awareness and legal action increase. Sterigenics resolved 80 cases in 2023 but still faces additional claims with upcoming trials in the next year.
The EPA has identified areas around both of these facilities as having elevated lifetime cancer risks due to EtO emissions. Legal action is underway to try to hold the companies accountable for alleged toxic exposure that may have harmed nearby workers and residents.
Do you qualify?
You may be eligible to join an ethylene oxide cancer lawsuit if:
- You lived or worked full-time within 5 miles of:
- The Sterigenics facility in Smyrna, GA, or
- The Bard/C.R. Bard (now Becton Dickinson) facility in Covington, GA.
- You were diagnosed with any type of the following cancers:
- Breast Cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Leukemia
Fill out the form on this page for more information.
What is ethylene oxide, and how is it used?
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, flammable gas commonly used to sterilize medical equipment and instruments that are sensitive to heat or moisture. EtO can penetrate delicate products—such as plastics, electronics, and surgical instruments. Its gaseous form allows it to permeate hard-to-reach areas, making it highly effective when used on complex or packaged items.
Can ethylene oxide cause cancer?
Despite its usefulness in sterilization, ethylene oxide is a hazardous chemical linked to serious health risks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other health organizations have classified EtO as a human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to the gas has been linked to several forms of cancer, including lymphoma, breast cancer and leukemia.
Unfortunately, the danger is not limited to those who handle the gas directly. People who live or work near industrial sterilization plants may be exposed to EtO through air emissions without realizing it. Over time, the effects of this kind of repeated, low-level exposure can accumulate in the body and significantly raise the risk of developing cancer.
Join a lawsuit for ethylene oxide cancer
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after living or working near a facility that uses ethylene oxide, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Legal action is underway to hold industrial sterilization companies accountable for exposing communities to dangerous levels of EtO without adequate warning or protection.
These lawsuits aim to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to ethylene oxide exposure. Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify to join.
Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.
See If You Qualify
Join an ethylene oxide cancer lawsuit investigation
Filling out this form is quick and easy. It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify.
After you fill out the form, an attorney(s) or their agent(s) may contact you to discuss your legal rights.
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