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B. Braun is a German medical and pharmaceutical device company. They operate a medical products sterilization plant in Lehigh County, PA at 901 Marcon Boulevard in Allentown. For decades, B. Braun’s facility has been known to emit EtO (ethylene oxide), an odorless and colorless gas that is an environmental contaminant with serious health implications for the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities. EPA data shows B. Braun Medical, Inc. released approximately 447 pounds of ethylene oxide in 2024, down from a high of nearly 9,000 pounds in 2009, and the company has installed new filtration technology and emission control systems resulting in a 90% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2021.
Exposure to ethylene oxide can result in numerous types of cancers for those living near B. Braun’s facility. The U.S. EPA classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen, raising health concerns for surrounding communities. Ethylene oxide allegedly emitted from B. Braun’s facility has been linked to a higher risk of leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and breast cancer, and people living close to the plant are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Studies have linked ethylene oxide exposure to higher instances of lymphohematopoietic cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia. The EPA has stated that hazardous air pollutants containing ethylene oxide pollution are responsible for increased cancer risks for more than 500,000 people nationwide. Individuals who lived within 4 miles of B. Braun’s facility for at least one year may be eligible to file a lawsuit if they develop a qualifying cancer.
Please contact our injury attorneys handling B Braun cancer lawsuits for a free case analysis. You pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you and your family.
B Braun Cancer Lawsuit: Background
The use of ethylene oxide (EtO) in medical sterilization plants has become a growing public health concern, especially in communities surrounding facilities like B. Braun Medical Inc. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Residents living near medical sterilization plants, such as B. Braun’s Allentown facility, have reported elevated cancer risks, including breast cancer, liver cancer, and blood cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As more individuals in Pennsylvania and across the country have developed cancer potentially linked to EtO emissions, concerns about environmental protection and public health have intensified, leading to a wave of lawsuits against companies alleged to have exposed nearby residents to this dangerous compound.
What Is Ethylene Oxide?
Ethylene oxide is an organic compound used to sterilize medical products because it is less damaging to them than other methods. However, it is also toxic to humans and associated with an elevated risk of developing certain cancers. According to the EPA, hazardous air pollutants containing ethylene oxide pollution are responsible for increased cancer risks for more than 500,000 people nationwide.
Ethylene Oxide Cancer Risk
Ethylene oxide has been linked to a number of cancers, including:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Lymphocytic leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Brain cancer
Ethylene oxide emissions from B. Braun’s facility have been linked to an increased risk of leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and breast cancer. People living close to the B. Braun plant are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Once released by the facility, ethylene oxide can remain in the surrounding air for up to 149 days in the winter and 69 days in the summer, according to the EPA. The compound has a toxicity half-life (the time required to lose half its toxicity) of 211 days.
Impact of Ethylene Oxide Exposure
Exposure to ethylene oxide in Allentown and nearby Bethlehem may result in 600 additional cancer cases per million individuals. Early onset symptoms of exposure include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
Additionally, EtO is also associated with an increased incidence of miscarriage among pregnant women.
B. Braun’s Liability
B. Braun emitted 6,800 pounds of ethylene oxide from its Allentown plant in 2014. The next highest emitter in the region, St. Luke’s University Hospital, released 17 pounds that year.
More than a dozen people in the Lehigh County area have alleged that they were sickened with brain, blood, and pelvic cancer due to emissions from B. Braun’s medical plant. Additionally, wrongful death suits have been brought by the families of three individuals who perished from an illness potentially caused by extended ethylene oxide exposure. Many lawsuits have been filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, with some cases involving a five week long trial.
Many settlements in B. Braun lawsuits have ranged from $175,000 to $500,000, but amounts can vary based on individual circumstances. Filing a lawsuit typically involves stages such as case review, discovery, depositions, and settlement negotiations, and if a case does not settle, it may proceed to trial where a judge or jury will determine if compensation is warranted.
The dangers of B. Braun’s operations in Pennsylvania were mostly unknown until July 2019, when EPA concerns about the facility were first published. Data analyzed by the agency in its National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) report found that the cancer risk from ethylene oxide near the plant was more than 200 times the state average. In response to the report, B. Braun alleged that its emissions were within legal limits but announced plans in November of 2019 to reduce ethylene oxide venting by 99%.
Considering Filing a Cancer Injury Lawsuit? Speak to an Experienced Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has developed cancer after being exposed to ethylene oxide emissions from B. Braun’s facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the company. The first step in pursuing legal action is to gather medical records and other documentation that can help establish a connection between your cancer diagnosis and EtO exposure. Working with an experienced attorney who understands the complexities of EtO emissions and toxic exposure cases is crucial.
A B. Braun mass tort lawsuit attorney can guide you through the process, explain your legal rights, and help you determine the best course of action. It’s important to act quickly, as there are time limits for filing a lawsuit, and waiting too long could jeopardize your ability to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact Shelsby & Leoni for help and guidance today.
