Terumo BCT Lawsuit – EtO Facility in Lakewood, Colorado [2025 Update]
Residents of Lakewood, Colorado, are suing Terumo BCT because this facility has been emitting ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, into the environment. Terumo BCT uses ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment, including the devices it uses to perform blood therapies. In 2022, the EPA published a risk report that showed that people who live near the Lakewood facility were more likely to develop cancer than those who lived in areas that were farther away from Terumo BCT. Because of this knowledge, residents and agencies have taken legal action.
In this article, you will learn about Terumo BCT’s Lakewood facility, what it does, and its history of ethylene oxide emissions. You will also discover information about the health risks experienced by Lakewood’s residents, who can sue Terumo BCT, and the possible compensation available to people affected by ethylene oxide emissions near this location.
Terumo BCT Lakewood Lawsuit Updates
July 20, 2025: Lakewood Residents Still Filing Lawsuits Against Terumo BCT
People who were subjected to high-plume areas from the BCT Lakewood plant are still filing lawsuits against the facility’s owners. Many people live in the residential area that the EPA identified as problematic. People living in some Lakewood neighborhoods have a higher risk of developing cancer due to breathing in ethylene oxide (EtO).
February 13, 2023: Lakewood Man Sues Terumo BCT, Believes Ethylene Oxide Caused His Bone Cancer
Blake Darnell of Lakewood, Colorado, is 32 years old and has an uncommon form of bone cancer. Blake lived a healthy, active life and was shocked when he received his bone cancer diagnosis when he was in his early 20s. The disease progressed to the point where Blake had to have one of his legs amputated when he was 23. After doing research to find out why he developed this cancer, he believes that the ethylene oxide emissions from the Terumo BCT facility near his home are the culprit. Blake is suing Terumo BCT and demanding compensation for his tremendous losses.
March 31, 2020: EPA’s Report Urges Action to Warn Lakewood Residents of Cancer Risk from Ethylene Oxide
The EPA’s Office of Inspector General recommends that the EPA notify residents of increased cancer risk if they live near the Lakewood Terumo BCT facility. In 2016, the EPA lowered the ethylene oxide concentration that could cause cancer. As a result of this report, members of the EPA held a community meeting in Lakewood to warn residents about the potential risks. The risks include a higher than expected chance of residents developing cancers ranging from leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma to breast and kidney cancer.
2018: Terumo BCT Upgrades Equipment to Reduce Ethylene Oxide Emissions, EPA Still Concerned
The EPA updated its guidelines for ethylene oxide in 2018, which meant that many facilities would be out of compliance. Terumo BCT’s Lakewood plant started performing upgrades on its sterilization equipment to reduce ethylene oxide emissions. While some reports say the emission levels were reduced, the EPA still noted an increased cancer risk due to ethylene oxide emissions in that area.
April 14, 2011: Terumo BCT Buys CaridianBCT for $2.63 Billion, Establishes Lakewood Headquarters
Terumo BCT, a Japanese company, finalized the acquisition of CaridianBCT, an American company, for $2.63 billion. With this purchase, Terumo BCT also announced that the Lakewood facility, which is also suited for medical device and sterilization operations, will serve as Terumo’s global headquarters. The Lakewood facility uses ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing gas, to sterilize medical equipment.
About the Terumo BCT Lawsuit
Terumo BCT Lakewood Lawsuit Updates
About Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc.
Terumo BCT Business Operations and EtO Sterilization Processes
Terumo BCT EtO Usage and Emissions in Lakewood
EtO Exposure Linked to Cancer Clusters in the Lakewood Community
Who Can File a Terumo BCT Lawsuit?
How to File a Terumo BCT Lawsuit
Deadline to File a Terumo BCT Lawsuit
Estimated Terumo BCT Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
About Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc.
Terumo BCT Sterilization Service, Inc., is part of Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, a Japanese medical device company. Terumo BCT Sterilization is headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, and uses ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment. Ethylene oxide is a gas, and it is often used to clean medical supplies that cannot be sterilized through most other methods.
Ethylene oxide is a popular choice for sterilization services; however, it poses significant risks to those who use it or are near it, even in nearby neighborhoods. This colorless, odorless gas is also a known carcinogen. Public reports have shown that people who live near plants that use ethylene oxide have higher rates of cancer.
The History of Terumo BCT and Its Sterilization Facility
Terumo BCT has been operating out of Lakewood since 2012. Before Terumo BCT purchased the facility, the sterilization plant was owned by COBE Laboratories. COBE Laboratories is a medical company formed in 1964 that started out by selling heart-lung tubing, but expanded to include blood processing tools. COBE Laboratories became CaridianBCT, and it was acquired by Gambro BCT in 1990 and by Terumo BCT in 2012 for $2.6 billion.
The Lakewood facility has been in operation since 2000, and it is now Terumo BCT’s headquarters. After it purchased it, Terumo started using the Lakewood facility to sterilize medical equipment and perform other medical processes involving blood and cells.
Where Is Terumo BCT Located?
Terumo BCT’s Lakewood sterilization facility is at 11308 W. Collins Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado. The sterilization center is located within the Terumo BCT building, which contains many administrative and medical suites. Many residential neighborhoods surround the plant, including the Eiber, Applewood, Daniels, Ashwood, and Quailridge communities. In 2022, the EPA published a map showing that communities around the Terumo BCT facility had a higher-than-expected cancer risk.
Ethylene Oxide Lakewood Map
[INSERT ETHYLENE OXIDE MAP FOR LAKEWOOD, CO]Terumo BCT Business Operations and EtO Sterilization Processes
Terumo BCT makes medical products that center around blood and cell therapies, including those used to make, clean, treat, collect, and administer blood. Terumo BCT uses ethylene oxide to sterilize its products because many of the components cannot be treated with heat or moisture.
Terumo BCT’s EtO Gas Sterilization Procedure
Terumo BCT staff must follow a strict procedure to make sure that equipment is properly sanitized and no or minimal ethylene oxide is leaked into the environment. The first step is to put the medical equipment into a chamber that is airtight and sealed with a vacuum after it is closed. Ethylene oxide is then released into the chamber and allowed to work to kill all bacteria and living cells on the equipment. Then, the ethylene oxide should be removed from the chambers and devices using a special scrubber system.
The chambers should have an exhaust system attached to them that allows the ethylene oxide to flow out of the chambers and into another system that recaptures the gas. When used properly, these scrubbers should remove 99 percent of all ethylene oxide in the chamber and on the equipment. OSHA also has regulations about the use of ethylene oxide and how it should be handled by workers.
Terumo BCT EtO Usage and Emissions in Lakewood
Terumo BCT has a long history of using large quantities of ethylene oxide each year. A public report released by the EPA in 2016 showed that Terumo BCT emitted about 2,759 pounds of EtO, which is a colorless gas. A 2021 EPA report indicated that Terumo BCT had released 1,581 pounds of ethylene oxide during that year. Between 2018 and 2023, Terumo BCT spent approximately $22 million to install and upgrade its equipment, like its catalytic oxidizer, which turns ethylene oxide particles into carbon dioxide, water, and heat.
Terumo BCT maintains that it properly recaptures 99 percent of the ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, it uses. However, public reports and lawsuits suggest an increased cancer risk for those who live around the Lakewood facility. Moreover, even relatively small amounts of ethylene oxide over a long period of time can increase someone’s risk of cancer and other harms. The EPA has updated its ethylene oxide emissions regulations to cut existing emissions by 90 percent nationwide.
EtO Exposure Linked to Cancer Clusters in the Lakewood Community
The EPA has been monitoring community risks for cancers and diseases due to ethylene oxide since the 1990s. It has stated that ethylene oxide is an air pollutant that can harm human health. In 2018 and 2022, the EPA released concerning models indicating that people who live near the Terumo BCT facility in Lakewood, Colorado, have an increased chance of developing cancer. The EPA estimated this risk to be up to 600 for every 1 million residents (6 in 10,000) for the people living closest to the facility. The EPA notified Lakewood residents about the newly discovered community danger, and Terumo BCT took steps to decrease its emissions around that time.
After the EPA released its initial findings in 2018, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment conducted its own study. According to the results, Colorado’s government determined that the overall amount of ethylene oxide being released by Terumo BCT was significantly lower than before, but historical emissions can still affect residents. Nonetheless, Colorado’s authorities also noted that they found slightly increased risks for cancers associated with ethylene oxide.
Who Can File a Terumo BCT Lawsuit?
Lakewood residents are filing lawsuits against Terumo BCT because they are getting sick, and they believe the ethylene oxide in the air is the reason why. Someone may qualify to sue Terumo BCT if they meet the following eligibility criteria:
- For at least one year, the person lived within 4 miles of Terumo BCT’s Lakewood facility.
- The person was diagnosed with an ethylene oxide-related cancer or disease after they were exposed to ethylene oxide emissions.
Some of the diseases that have been connected to ethylene oxide include leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. People who lost a loved one to an ethylene oxide-related cancer may also be able to file a wrongful death claim.
The person’s diagnosis should also have arisen a certain number of years after they were exposed to ethylene oxide (referred to as a latency period). The latency period depends on the type of cancer they developed and is usually at least two years after the exposure period. A personal injury attorney can help victims by explaining what the updated eligibility criteria are and letting them know if they qualify to sue. 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 Terumo BCT Lawsuit
Someone who is ready to start the process of filing a lawsuit can do so by following the steps below:
- Schedule a free case review with a lawyer who can explain their legal options.
- Work with their attorney to locate and request evidence to prove they may qualify for an ethylene oxide settlement.
- The attorney prepares and files the legal complaint.
- The attorney and the victim participate in settlement discussions with Terumo BCT’s legal counsel.
When victims hire a personal injury attorney, the firm’s team will handle most of the legal matters throughout the lawsuit. Some ethylene oxide attorneys do not charge any upfront fees to represent the victim during the case. Instead, if they win the victim’s claim, they would receive an agreed-upon percentage that is automatically taken out of the person’s settlement. King Law and its partners work according to this arrangement.
Deadline to File a Terumo BCT Lawsuit
Victims need to file their lawsuits against Terumo BCT before the statute of limitations runs out. This filing deadline is determined by the type of claims the victims are making, and it is usually a certain number of years from the time the person receives the diagnosis or discovers they were injured by ethylene oxide. For example, Colorado law requires many (but not all) victims to sue within 2 years after the diagnosis or discovery.
Most states (including Colorado) have exceptions that can give the person additional time to file beyond the standard range. It is a good idea to talk to an attorney as soon as you suspect Terumo BCT’s ethylene oxide emissions caused you harm. They can help you preserve your right to seek damages.
Estimated Terumo BCT Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
The Terumo BCT lawsuits are still in their early stages, so settlements are also in their early stages. Terumo BCT won a March 2025 Bellwether trial; however, this is just one case among the dozens that have been and will be filed. Other victims have received high payouts in ethylene oxide claims against medical companies.
We estimate that some successful claimants may receive a settlement from Terumo BCT of up to $175,000 to $500,000 or more. One of the factors that can affect how much someone is awarded in damages is the quality of the evidence they have to connect ethylene oxide emissions and their cancer diagnosis. Other factors include how their cancer has impacted their quality of life, their total medical bills, and their lost wages. An attorney can talk to you about your claim against Terumo BCT and estimate what your potential settlement could be.
Contact a Lakewood Ethylene Oxide Lawyer Today
If you lived near Terumo BCT’s Lakewood facility and developed certain types of cancer, you may qualify for compensation. Reach out to our legal team by calling (585) 496-2648 to set up a free case review. Our dedicated intake specialists are ready to take your call and help you start the process of seeking justice for what you have gone through.