Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit – EtO Facility in Taunton, MA [2025 Update]

The Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit Is An Active Lawsuit

See If You Qualify

Taunton-area residents are filing lawsuits against Professional Contract Sterilization, Inc. (PCS), a Massachusetts-based medical and veterinary equipment sterilization facility. A 2022 assessment by the USEPA found that this small facility discharges some of the highest levels of ethylene oxide of any company in the United States. Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a cancer-causing gas. As a result of these emissions, people who live, work, or go to school near the Professional Contract Sterilization plant are much more likely to develop cancer related to EtO emissions.

This page answers your questions about what Professional Contract Sterilization is, how it uses ethylene oxide, and the risks its emissions pose to the Taunton community. You will also learn about who can file a claim against Professional Contract Sterilization, the steps involved in this type of lawsuit, and what compensation packages may be available.

About the Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit

Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit Updates

March 20, 2025: Professional Contract Sterilization Must Comply with Updated EPA Regulations

The EPA issued new emissions rules for ethylene oxide use, which aim to reduce current emissions by 92 percent going forward. To accomplish this target, the EPA passed regulations to update how companies like Professional Contract Sterilization report to the EPA on and use ethylene oxide. Professional Contract Sterilization will need to adjust its operations to make sure it is meeting these goals.

May 9, 2024: Professional Contract Sterilization Penalized for Violating Environmental Regulations

Professional Contract Sterilization has reached a settlement with the EPA over violations of the Clean Air Act. The Taunton sterilization plant had failed to turn over key ethylene oxide emissions data requested by the EPA. The EPA needs this information to ensure the air the community is breathing is safe and to intervene if necessary to curb pollution. Professional Contract Sterilization was forced to pay a $15,000 fine and eventually complied with the EPA’s data request.

August 3, 2022: EPA Warns About Ethylene Oxide Emissions Around Professional Contract Sterilization and Other Facilities

After concluding its assessments of 23 sterilization facilities across the United States, the EPA has announced plans to host community forums. The EPA discovered that Professional Contract Sterilization and other plants are emitting ethylene oxide that could be harming unsuspecting residents. As a result, the EPA has scheduled town hall meetings and presentations to educate Taunton, Massachusetts, residents and other at-risk communities about how ethylene oxide in the air can cause cancer.

July 27, 2022: EPA Publishes Community Risk Assessment for Taunton Area Around Professional Contract Sterilization

Using data collected from Professional Contract Sterilization the year before, the EPA calculated the Taunton risk profile for people living or working around the sterilization plant. According to the findings, the community around this facility may have a lifetime cancer risk of 900 in a million (9 in 10,000) from ethylene oxide exposure, which is much higher than expected. These results alarmed the EPA and caused the agency to alert Professional Contract Sterilization as well as the Taunton community at large.

October 2021: EPA Requests Emissions Data from Professional Contract Sterilization’s Taunton Facility

The EPA sent a notice to Professional Contract Sterilization in October 2021 to ask that it send data on the facility’s ethylene oxide use. Some of the requested information includes how much ethylene oxide the company uses, how it transports, stores, and collects it, and how much is emitted during use. The EPA sent this notice as part of its efforts to identify ethylene oxide presence and risks throughout the United States.

About Professional Contract Sterilization, Inc. (PCS)

Professional Contract Sterilization, Inc. (PCS), is a small company founded in 1990 that sterilizes medical and veterinary equipment. It operates out of a facility in Taunton, Massachusetts, and is owned by Gary Cranston, who also serves as its president. Professional Contract Sterilization uses ethylene oxide (EtO), a colorless, odorless gas, to sterilize supplies and equipment used by its many customers.

Although ethylene oxide is used by most sterilization companies in the United States, it is also known to cause cancer. Professional Contract Sterilization has consistently touted its compliance with EPA and OSHA regulations. However, public reports call this into question, citing increased cancer risks for those who work, go to school, and live near this facility.

The History of PCS and Its EtO Sterilization Facility

In 1990, Professional Contract Sterilization (PCS) began its operations. The company started with three ethylene oxide chambers that it used to sterilize equipment. In 1997 an explosion knocked down the company’s walls. Professional Contract Sterilization shut down for several months, then reopened with six sterilization chambers in 1997. Five of these are used for sterilization services, and the sixth is for storage.

Professional Contract Sterilization sterilizes a variety of products, including bandages and artificial organs, and has ISO 13485:2016 certification. The company has been at its current facility since it opened its doors over 35 years ago and has six full-time workers on its payroll. Professional Contract Sterilization gained attention in 2022, when the EPA released its report warning of increased risks of cancer from ethylene oxide emissions from this site.

PCS Business Operations and EtO Sterilization Procedures

Professional Contract Sterilization has customers from many industries, including veterinary clinics, biotech companies, hospitals, and medical device manufacturers. The organization uses ethylene oxide gas to sterilize equipment because this method does not require heat or moisture to kill bacteria and other contaminants. Many medical products can be damaged by heat or moisture, so ethylene oxide ensures they are cleaned without destroying or warping them.

Some of the equipment that Professional Contract Sterilization sterilizes includes ace bandages, artificial organs, and hip implants. Professional Contract Sterilization’s sterilization vessels range from 30 to 1,140 cubic feet, which allows them to accommodate many differently-sized products. They also offer customized sterilization services and consultations.

PCS EtO Gas Sterilization Process

Professional Contract Sterilization’s process for cleaning equipment begins with putting the items in a container that is airtight and whose heat and humidity levels are controlled. Next, the products are moved into a chamber where the ethylene oxide will be released, which will sterilize them. Then, the ethylene oxide is vacuumed out of the chamber and into a scrubber that recaptures the gas.

This process can be adjusted based on the equipment the company is sterilizing. Professional Contract Sterilization also validates the sterilization processes of other businesses, and multiple government agencies oversee its operations. Nonetheless, the EPA has noted that the emissions from the Taunton facility put the public at risk of ethylene oxide exposure that may cause cancer.

PCS EtO Usage and Emissions in Taunton

Professional Contract Sterilization has several pieces of equipment to help control and recapture ethylene oxide emissions. For example, it has a special tri-phase scrubber (made by Damas Corporation) which pulls the ethylene oxide out of the air and releases the now-clean air into the atmosphere. The ethylene oxide taken out of the chamber can be turned into ethylene glycol (which is less harmful to people and the environment) and used to make antifreeze.

Professional Contract Sterilization also has an oxidizer that is designed to destroy about 99 percent of the ethylene oxide in the air emitted outside the facility. The EPA audited the Taunton facility in 2023 and verified that it was operating within the regulations in effect at that time. The EPA has since tightened its rules around ethylene oxide emissions, noting that the cancer risk is much higher than originally thought. Professional Contract Sterilization has not yet signaled that it will upgrade its facility to comply with new regulations about ethylene oxide emissions.

EtO Exposure Linked to Cancer Clusters in the Taunton Community

Ethylene oxide has been connected to multiple types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Studies have also shown that the risk increases when someone works or lives around places where ethylene oxide is emitted into the air. Because of this, the communities around facilities like Professional Contract Sterilization are at increased risk of cancer.

In 2022, the EPA issued a community risk assessment that warned that people around the Taunton facility may have an elevated lifetime cancer risk of between 100 and 900 in a million. This means that between 1 and 9 people out of every 10,000 in this area may get cancer from ethylene oxide exposure. This estimated cancer risk is on top of someone’s probability of getting cancer for other reasons, such as PFAS in their water, and it was higher than the EPA expected. In 2022 and 2023, the EPA held several town hall meetings to inform Taunton and Norton residents about the dangers associated with ethylene oxide exposure.

Who Can File a Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit?

Anyone who lived near the Professional Contract Sterilization building and developed certain types of cancer may qualify for compensation. Some of the additional eligibility criteria for this lawsuit include the following:

• The person lived within four miles of the Taunton facility for at least one year.
• The person was diagnosed with a cancer associated with ethylene oxide exposure (e.g., leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer.)
• The person’s cancer developed after they were exposed to ethylene oxide emitted from Professional Contract Sterilization’s facility

There are different rules about the length of time that should elapse between when the person was exposed to ethylene oxide and when they developed cancer. A personal injury attorney can help victims and their surviving loved ones understand what the updated criteria are to join this lawsuit. Criteria may change throughout the course of the lawsuit, so contact our team to understand if you have a qualifying injury.

How to File a Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit

Victims can file a lawsuit against Professional Contract Sterilization by following the steps listed below:

1. Scheduling a free case review with an experienced attorney and their team
2. Giving the attorney evidence they can use to develop a strong case against Professional Contract Sterilization
3. Writing and filing the legal complaint with the help of your lawyer
4. Collaborating with the lawyer to negotiate a settlement deal

The legal professionals at King Law are accepting ethylene oxide claims against Professional Contract Sterilization and other manufacturers. Our office takes these cases on contingency (no upfront legal fees), which allows our clients to access legal representation without worrying about how they will afford it.

Deadline to File a Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit

Victims must start their ethylene oxide claim against Professional Contract Sterilization before the statute of limitations expires. The amount of time they are given under the law is based on their individual situation. Moreover, each state has its own rules about the timing of these types of claims.

For example, Massachusetts gives most (but not all) victims several years to file; however, several different exceptions may give victims additional time beyond this. An experienced environmental attorney is a good resource for victims to consult to determine what their deadlines are and the steps needed to meet them.

Estimated Professional Contract Sterilization Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Settlements in the lawsuits against Professional Contract Sterilization are in their early stages. However, legal advocates believe that some victims may win compensation of up to $175,000 to $500,000 or more.

The exact value of their claim depends on factors such as the type of cancer they develop, the quality of the evidence they have to support their arguments, and whether they take legal action before their filing deadline runs out. Attorneys can provide personalized estimates for individual victims who want to know what their financial award might be if they win their lawsuit against Professional Contract Sterilization.

Contact a Taunton Ethylene Oxide Lawyer Today

Reports and evidence suggest that Professional Contract Sterilization may be putting the Taunton community at risk of developing cancer because of the ethylene oxide it is emitting into the air. If you or your loved one believes you may have a legal claim against this facility, reach out to the King Law team today. We are available by phone at (585) 496-2648, or you can submit a confidential case evaluation sheet to start the onboarding process.

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