Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit Against Midwest Sterilization Corporation [2025 Update]

The Ethylene Oxide Lawsuit Is An Active Lawsuit

See If You Qualify

Local residents are filing lawsuits against Midwest Sterilization Corporation after developing cancer related to ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure. Midwest Sterilization uses ethylene oxide in sterilization processes at its plants in Jackson, Missouri, and Laredo, Texas.

Residents who live near Midwest Sterilization facilities in Jackson and Laredo are exposed to ethylene oxide gas. The EPA has found that breathing air with EtO in it raises a person’s risk of certain types of cancer.

In this article, you will learn about Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s facilities in Jackson, Missouri, and Laredo, Texas. This page also discusses how much ethylene oxide Midwest Sterilization Corporation releases into the atmosphere, which communities are at risk, and the dangers of breathing ethylene oxide.

The article also covers Midwest Sterilization ethylene oxide cancer lawsuits and possible compensation available to residents who were sickened by ethylene oxide emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s facilities.

Midwest Sterilization Corporation Lawsuit Updates

July 2025: White House Exempts Some Medical Sterilization Facilities from Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards

The White House has exempted some medical sterilization companies from following the new ethylene oxide emissions standards. Officials have said this exemption will give the industry time to find a suitable replacement for the carcinogenic gas or install better scrubbing units to remove more of the gas from emissions.

September 2022: EPA Holds Meeting After Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo, Texas, Ethylene Oxide Facility Flagged as Area of Concern

The EPA held a town hall to inform the community around Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo plant that it has an increased risk of developing cancer. Prior to this public meeting, residents were not warned about the presence of ethylene oxide in the air they breathed.

August 2022: Laredo Officials Approve Air Pollution Monitoring Plan to Reduce EtO Emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation

City officials in Laredo have approved the Clean Air Laredo Coalition, a nonprofit group created to monitor ethylene oxide emissions in Laredo, Texas. The group formed after public reports showed that the Laredo Midwest Sterilization Corporation facility had been releasing high amounts of ethylene oxide into the air. People in Laredo are discovering that their or their children’s cancer diagnosis may be from the ethylene oxide coming from the Midwest Sterilization Corporation facility.

August 2022: Midwest Sterilization Corporation in Jackson Is Named One of the Top Ethylene Oxide Polluters in the Country

According to a public report, Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson location is one of the top polluters of ethylene oxide in the United States. The EPA flagged this site as an area of concern for people who lived or worked around it, because they could be breathing in ethylene oxide that was released into the air.

December 2021: Laredo Residents Discover Ethylene Oxide Is Being Emitted from Midwest Sterilization Corporation

Laredo residents learned that Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s facility has been releasing ethylene oxide into the air for over a decade. Very few residents were even aware the plant was operating. The Laredo facility is near dozens of schools, businesses, and homes, meaning numerous adults and children were unknowingly put at risk of developing cancer. Many children in the area have been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is associated with ethylene oxide exposure.

December 2019: EPA Officials Hold Town Hall in Jackson, MO, Over Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Ethylene Oxide Emissions

The EPA held a town hall to speak to the Jackson community about the risks of ethylene oxide. The EPA identified Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson facility as a source of air contamination for those who live or work near it. Midwest Sterilization Corporation uses ethylene oxide, a gas that causes cancer, to sterilize medical equipment. While most of the gas stays within a closed system, enough of it escapes into the atmosphere to increase the lifetime cancer risks for nearby residents, workers, and students.

June 2019: Midwest Sterilization Corporation Gets Permit to Install New Ethylene Oxide Scrubber in Jackson, Missouri, Facility

Midwest Sterilization Corporation received a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to install a new scrubber system at its Jackson location. The scrubber is made to safely take out excess ethylene oxide from the system and reduce how much is released into the environment. Residents of Jackson, Missouri, who live near the Midwest Sterilization Corporation plant may be breathing in ethylene oxide in the air. Studies have shown that this gas can raise someone’s cancer risk if they are exposed to even low levels of it in the community over time.

December 2018: Midwest Sterilization Corporation Gets Green Light to Install New Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Chamber in Jackson Facility

Midwest Sterilization Corporation has requested a permit to install a new sterilization chamber in its headquarters facility in Jackson, Missouri. This thirteenth chamber will greatly increase the amount of medical equipment this location can cleanse using ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is used to sterilize medical tools and other products that cannot be treated with excessive heat, radiation, or moisture.

2005: Midwest Sterilization Corporation Opens Ethylene Oxide Facility in Laredo, Texas

Midwest Sterilization Corporation opens its ethylene oxide facility in Laredo, Texas. The company uses ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic gas, to sterilize medical and veterinary equipment, as well as other products. Ethylene oxide is standard practice in the sterilization industry. However, it is toxic and can cause cancer in humans, even at low-level exposure.

About the Midwest Sterilization EtO Lawsuit:

About Midwest Sterilization Corporation

Midwest Sterilization Corporation is a commercial sterilization company that uses ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment and other products. According to reports, Midwest Sterilization Corporation is the largest privately owned contract EtO medical sterilization company in the United States. The company was founded in Jackson, Missouri, in 1984. The company has two locations—one facility in Jackson, Missouri, and another in Laredo, Texas.

Ethylene oxide is a common gas used to sterilize heat and moisture-sensitive equipment. EtO is also known to cause cancer. The EPA has discovered that many facilities in the United States have been emitting unsafe levels of ethylene oxide gas into the air, and these emissions put community members at risk of developing cancer.

The History of Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo, Texas, EtO Facility

Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo location has been using ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment for over 20 years. In 2021, Midwest Sterilization Corporation installed a new scrubber system at its Laredo, Texas, facility. In 2022, the EPA announced that the Laredo community had a higher-than-expected cancer risk because of the ethylene oxide being emitted by Midwest Sterilization Corporation.

The Laredo facility is near dozens of schools, businesses, and homes, meaning that more than 100,000 people have been exposed to ethylene oxide from Midwest Sterilization Corporation. At least 28,000 schoolchildren in the Laredo area attend schools that are in the riskiest EtO exposure zones. The Midwest Sterilization plant is responsible for that exposure.

The History of Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson, MO, EtO Facility

Midwest Sterilization opened up a sterilization facility in the Jackson community in 1999. Karen Eldridge is the current president, and the company describes itself as “self-owned.” Midwest Sterilization’s Jackson facility has 13 sterilization chambers, which can collectively hold up to 58 pallets of varying sizes. In 2019, Midwest Sterilization’s Jackson facility installed upgraded back vents to recapture more ethylene oxide and reduce emissions.

What Are the Health Risks Associated with Emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation?

Ethylene oxide emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson facility can cause cancer if people are exposed to the gas over many years. People who live or work within 4 miles of the Jackson facility are at the highest risk. Cancers and diseases that are associated with ethylene oxide exposure include breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia. Living or working near the facility for a year or more is enough to potentially increase someone’s cancer risk.

Where Is Midwest Sterilization Corporation Located?

Midwest Sterilization Corporation has two major facilities in the United States, which are located in Jackson, Missouri, and Laredo, Texas. Both of the facilities release ethylene oxide into the air, affecting local businesses and neighborhoods.

Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo facility is located at 12010 General Milton Drive in Laredo, Texas. The Laredo facility is near residential and commercial districts that Mines Road, Frontage Road, and I-35 run through along the Texas-Mexico border. In 2021, the Laredo community was home to over 260,000 people, and nearly half of the population lived near the Midwest Sterilization Corporation facility. An estimated 37,000 children were included in the high-risk zone from ethylene oxide emissions at Laredo’s Midwest Sterilization Corporation.

Its Jackson, Missouri, facility is located at 1204 Lenco Avenue, Jackson, Missouri. Public reports showed that at one point, Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson facility was the second-highest ethylene oxide polluter in the country. Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson facility is near businesses that offer firearms, dog training, and trucking, beauty, and food supplies. The plant is also near several schools and neighborhoods.

Where Are People Being Exposed to EtO Released by Midwest Sterilization Corporation?

People who live and work near Midwest Sterilization plants are exposed to EtO emissions from the facilities. Similarly, people who attend school or daycares near the facility are also exposed to the gas. Below are the highest EtO exposure zones for Laredo and Jackson residents. There have been several cancer clusters related to EtO emissions from Midwest Sterilization’s facilities.

Ethylene Oxide Laredo Map

List of Neighborhoods, Businesses, and Schools in the Exposure Area

• Killam Industrial Park
• La Bota Ranch
• Indian Sunset
• Wolf Creek
• Pellegrino Industrial Park
• Interamerica Distribution Park
• Pan American Mobile Home Park
• Quivira Project
• El Portal Industrial Park
• United High School
• Village Heights
• San Isidro Southwest
• United Day School
• Borchers Elementary School

Ethylene Oxide Jackson Map

List of Neighborhoods, Businesses, and Schools in the Exposure Area

• Signature Paper & Packaging
• Heartland Coca-Cola
• K9 Training Center
• RJ Adventures
• Ari-Jackson Manufacturing
• Greenbrier Rail Services
• Show Me Truck Equipment
• Jackson Boulevard neighborhood
• Custom Cut Fabrication
• Harps Food Stores
• Jackson High School
• Hillcrest neighborhood
• University of Missouri Extension Center of Cape Girardeau County
• Oak Street neighborhood
• East Lane neighborhood
• Main Street neighborhood
• Jefferson Street neighborhood

Midwest Sterilization Corporation Business Operations and EtO Sterilization Procedures

Midwest Sterilization Corporation uses ethylene oxide to sterilize medical and dental equipment. Alternative sterilization methods use heat, moisture, or radiation to sterilize items. Midwest Sterilization Corporation uses ethylene oxide because other methods can damage delicate medical tools. However, although ethylene oxide is highly effective at killing all living organisms and bacteria on contact, it is very toxic. As such, OSHA requires Midwest Sterilization Corporation to follow special handling procedures to use and contain it appropriately.

Midwest Sterilization Corporation EtO Gas Sterilization Process

Midwest Sterilization Corporation follows a set process to sterilize equipment using ethylene oxide. Here are the steps to the sterilization process:

• Step 1: This step is called the preconditioning stage, where the products are heated up and primed for sterilization. This step lasts up to a full day.
• Step 2: The products are put into a sterilization chamber and exposed to pure ethylene oxide for up to 16 hours.
• Step 3: Once the sterilization cycle is complete, the chamber is opened, and the ethylene oxide is taken out of the chamber over the course of up to 2 days.

The chamber features vacuums, scrubbers, vents, and other controls to help administer, filter, and contain the ethylene oxide within the sealed system.

Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson facility installed several new vents and other equipment throughout the years, which have helped reduce its ethylene oxide emissions. However, people who lived or worked near the facility before the safety upgrades may still have been exposed to the historically high emissions in the outside air.

Midwest Sterilization Corporation EtO Usage and Emissions in Laredo

According to the EPA, 599 pounds of ethylene oxide escaped from Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo facility in 2024. These emissions are called fugitive air emissions. About half of the amount of ethylene oxide the plant used during 2024 was released into the environment. In 2005, the Laredo location had 85 pounds of fugitive air emissions, and this number has steadily grown nearly every year since. Midwest Sterilization Corporation has installed several new chambers and scrubbers at its Laredo location throughout the years. However, it is not in compliance with the EPA’s new rules requiring Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo facility to reduce its ethylene oxide emissions by over 90%.

Actions Taken Against Midwest Sterilization Corporation

In July 2022, the EPA noted the Laredo Midwest Sterilization Corporation facility was emitting high levels of ethylene oxide into the atmosphere. On September 15, 2022, the EPA warned the Laredo community members that they had an increased lifetime cancer risk because of Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s ethylene oxide emissions.

Clean Air Laredo conducted a study and found that Laredo’s Midwest Sterilization Corporation plant was one of the top ethylene oxide users in the country. The Texas Department of State Health Services found that people in Laredo who live near the Midwest Sterilization Corporation have higher-than-expected rates of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Laredo facility needs to take steps (like installing new scrubbers or oxidizers) to reduce its emissions to meet the EPA’s new emission rules and protect people in Laredo.

Has Midwest Sterilization Corporation Reduced Its Ethylene Oxide Emissions from its Laredo Plant?

Midwest Sterilization Corporation has not reduced its ethylene oxide emissions at its Laredo facility. Instead, the amount of fugitive air emissions has significantly increased from 2005 to 2024, except for a slight decrease from 606 pounds of EtO in 2022 to 599 pounds of EtO in 2024. Ethylene oxide in the air that the Laredo community breathes in every day is raising their chances of developing breast and lymphatic cancers. Even low amounts of ethylene oxide in the outside air can, over time, cause someone to develop cancer.

Midwest Sterilization Corporation EtO Usage and Emissions in Jackson

Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s facility in Jackson released about 209 pounds of fugitive ethylene oxide into the atmosphere in 2024. Total EtO emissions from the plant have ranged from a low of 209 pounds in 2024 to a high of 18,028 pounds in 2004.

Fugitive emissions occur when the chemical escapes from the system and enters the atmosphere. The EPA found that those who have spent years within a four-mile radius of the Jackson facility have an elevated lifetime cancer risk compared to those who do not.

Midwest Sterilization installed new safety equipment to help control emissions in 2019, and the EPA reports that these controls have been successful. However, those exposed to Midwest Sterilization’s previous ethylene oxide emissions levels are still at risk of developing cancer.

Actions Taken Against Midwest Sterilization Corporation

In 2020, Midwest Sterilization Corporation was included in the EPA’s list of toxic ethylene oxide sterilization companies in the United States. The EPA flagged a large zone around the Jackson facility as being in danger from the ethylene oxide gas released into the air. The EPA held several town halls and community outreach programs to notify Jackson-area residents that breathing in even low levels of ethylene oxide in the air over many years may raise someone’s cancer risk.

According to the EPA, Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson site installed equipment to lower its ethylene oxide emissions by 99 percent or more. Still, these changes cannot reverse the harm already done to those in the Jackson community who breathed in ethylene oxide for many years before this update.

Has Midwest Sterilization Corporation Reduced Its Ethylene Oxide Emissions from the Jackson Plant?

The ethylene oxide emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson facility have gone down in recent years; however, there is still a risk to the surrounding community. In 2002, the Jackson facility released 258 pounds of fugitive ethylene oxide emissions into the air. In 2024, these emissions decreased to 209 pounds.

The EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) are working closely with Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s Jackson plant to make sure the ethylene oxide levels continue to decrease. Even so, people who already lived or worked near the Jackson facility may still develop cancer or other illnesses because of the ethylene oxide emitted in previous years.

State-Level Laws Affecting Midwest Sterilization’s Air Quality Emissions

Although all facilities that discharge gas into the air have to follow regulations set by the EPA, state laws also affect procedures for and amounts of the releases. Some states choose to pass laws that are stricter than EPA regulations.

Texas Legislative Activities Linked to EtO Exposure

The Texas Department of Environmental Quality regulates how much EtO Midwest Sterilization Corporation releases into Laredo’s air. However, environmental groups criticize Texas regulators for having emissions maximums that are too high and do not keep Laredo residents safe. That said, the City of Laredo worked with the nonprofit Clean Air Laredo group to study local emissions closely and recommend changes. Texas works with the EPA to monitor and regulate ethylene oxide levels coming from Midwest Sterilization Corporation in Laredo.

Missouri Legislative Activities Linked to EtO Exposure

Missouri’s government does not have its own ethylene oxide regulations. However, the MDNR works closely with the EPA to enforce the federal regulations in place for Region 7. For instance, the MDNR monitors Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s ethylene oxide emissions and issues air and construction permits to make sure the facility follows EPA guidelines. Missouri’s government also has a history of cracking down on ethylene oxide facilities that have polluted the air in communities.

Who Can File a Midwest Sterilization Corporation Lawsuit?

Jackson- and Laredo-area residents who lived or worked near Midwest Sterilization Corporation and developed cancer may request compensation through an EtO lawsuit. The ethylene oxide being released into the air in their neighborhoods may be the reason they got cancer. Here are some of the eligibility criteria to file a lawsuit against Midwest Sterilization Corporation:

• You lived or worked within 4 miles of the Midwest Sterilization Corporation facility in Jackson, Missouri, or Laredo, Texas, for at least one continuous year.
• You were diagnosed with a qualifying cancer associated with ethylene oxide emissions.
• Your cancer diagnosis occurred after you were exposed to ethylene oxide for at least one continuous year.

There are also rules about how long after your ethylene oxide exposure your diagnosis must have occurred. The length of time depends on the type of cancer you have. The eligibility criteria may change, so it is important to talk to a seasoned lawyer about what applies to your situation.

How to File a Midwest Sterilization Corporation Lawsuit

To file a lawsuit against Midwest Sterilization Corporation, you would need to follow the proper legal process:

• Schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury attorney.
• Request medical records to prove you were diagnosed with a qualifying cancer related to ethylene oxide exposure.
• Gather your property records showing you lived or worked near the Jackson, Missouri, facility for at least 1 full year.
• Collaborate with your lawyer to write up and submit the legal complaint.
• Work with your lawyer to complete discovery, trial preparations, and settlement negotiations.

When filing a lawsuit, it is recommended you find a reputable lawyer who will not charge you upfront legal fees to handle your lawsuit against Midwest Sterilization Corporation. That way, you can pursue compensation without having the added stress of its financial impact. Our legal team focuses on mass torts and knows how to file successful lawsuits against large businesses, like Midwest Sterilization.

Public Response to Emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation

Laredo Community Response

The Laredo community expressed outrage and frustration when it discovered that Midwest Sterilization Corporation was poisoning the air with ethylene oxide. For instance, children as young as six have developed leukemia, likely due to the ethylene oxide they have been breathing in the air.

Laredo citizens have formed a nonprofit organization to shed light on Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s ethylene oxide emissions and hold it accountable for making people sick. The City of Laredo has also held several town hall meetings to discuss ethylene oxide emissions from Midwest Sterilization Corporation.

Jackson Community Response

The EPA held community meetings in 2018 and 2019 to discuss Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s ethylene oxide emissions and the risks to Jackson residents. Jackson area residents are continuing to learn about how the ethylene oxide from Midwest Sterilization Corporation may have affected their health. Those who lived or worked near the plant and developed cancer may qualify to sue Midwest Sterilization Corporation for not doing more to prevent this gas from poisoning the air in their communities.

Deadline to File a Midwest Sterilization Corporation Lawsuit

The deadline to file a lawsuit against Midwest Sterilization Corporation in Jackson, MO, or Laredo, TX, depends on the applicable state law. Surviving family members would have to file a wrongful death claim against Midwest Sterilization Corporation within a different timetable. Personal injury attorneys can help people understand and meet their legal deadlines.

Under Missouri law, some ethylene oxide claims would need to be filed within 5 years. However, the starting point for this 5-year window depends on the circumstances.

In Texas, most personal injury claims would need to be filed within 2 years after you discover that your cancer was caused by ethylene oxide emissions from the Midwest Sterilization Corporation plant in Laredo, TX. However, there are exceptions to these filing deadlines, so you may have more or less time to file than this.

Estimated Midwest Sterilization Corporation Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

The lawsuits against Midwest Sterilization Corporation are in their early stages, so there have not been widespread settlements yet. However, legal advocates believe some payouts could range up to $175,000 to $500,000 or more. How much someone receives depends on their individual circumstances and the damages they suffered because of Midwest Sterilization Corporation’s ethylene oxide emissions from its Jackson and Laredo facilities.

Contact a Jackson Ethylene Oxide Lawyer Today

You may be entitled to a settlement if you developed cancer after living or working near the Midwest Sterilization Corporation plant in Laredo, Texas, or Jackson, Missouri. These facilities use ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment, and public reports show that Midwest Sterilization Corporation allowed the gas to leak into the outside air. Scientific studies have shown that long-term exposure to ethylene oxide while in the general community is associated with increased odds of getting cancer.

Call (585) 496-2648 or fill out our contact form today to schedule a free, no-obligation case review. King Law can help you get the settlement you deserve.

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