State: West Virginia

The Hidden Danger

Ethylene oxide, a colorless and odorless gas used in various industrial processes, has become the center of growing health concerns and legal battles. Recent investigations have revealed that long-term exposure to this chemical may significantly increase cancer risks, prompting affected communities to seek justice through the courts.

5 Key Points

• Ethylene oxide is linked to various cancers, including breast cancer and leukemia
• Lawsuits are mounting against chemical companies over ethylene oxide emissions
• EPA faces criticism for its emission standards and cancer risk assessments
• Environmental groups argue current regulations are insufficient to protect public health
• Affected communities often include low-income and minority populations

The Cancer Connection

Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide can significantly increase the risk of various cancers, including breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acknowledged the link between ethylene oxide and cancer, even at low concentrations. This revelation has led to growing concern among residents living near facilities that emit this gas.

The human cost of this exposure is exemplified by Cathy Flint, a 64-year-old Charleston, West Virginia resident. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the plasma cells, Flint has filed a lawsuit against Dow Chemical’s Union Carbide subsidiary and other companies manufacturing ethylene oxide. Her story is among many emerging from communities grappling with the consequences of industrial emissions.

Flint’s experience is particularly poignant. For nearly 30 years, she lived less than 750 feet away from a chemical plant, never questioning its safety. It wasn’t until she received a questionnaire from environmental lawyers that she began to wonder if her cancer could be linked to ethylene oxide exposure. “It was just part of life in this valley. There’s plants everywhere,” Flint explained. “I didn’t think much about it. I thought it was safe. It wasn’t.”

Legal Challenges and Community Impact

The mounting lawsuits against chemical companies highlight the widespread impact of ethylene oxide emissions. Residents are filing suits claiming dangerous levels of exposure, while environmental groups are challenging EPA standards in federal court. Lawyers argue for stricter regulations and better public education about risks, emphasizing the need for accountability.

Stuart Calwell, an environmental attorney representing Flint and others, emphasizes the lack of public education about the risks of living near chemical plants. “Over the years, there’s been no education of the public, by government agencies or anybody else, to advise people on the risks of living in an area where countless toxic molecules are belching out of these plants daily,” Calwell stated.

The impact on communities is profound. Kelly McCown, who grew up on Flint’s block, shared her health struggles, including polycystic ovary syndrome and numerous cysts throughout her body. McCown’s experience reflects a broader pattern in the area, known as “Cancer Bottom” for years. Both of her paternal grandparents, who lived in the area, died of cancer.

EPA Standards and Criticism

The EPA’s current standards for air toxins limit the acceptable lifetime cancer risk to 1 in 1 million people. However, mapping tools have shown much higher risks in affected areas:

• Flint’s neighborhood had a cancer risk of 300 in 1 million in 2020
• The risk was 200 in 1 million in 2018, the year of Flint’s diagnosis
• The Biden administration’s updated standards aim to reduce ethylene oxide emissions by 90%
• Critics argue the new standards still leave millions at risk

Abel Russ, a senior attorney at the Environmental Integrity Project, contends that the EPA’s efforts fall short. “That doesn’t really comport with EPA’s obligation to minimize the number of people who are exposed to cancer risk like that,” Russ explained. He emphasized, “You could reduce emissions further, and it’s important that you do so because this rule is going to leave nearly 6 million people in harm’s way.”

Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities

Research has revealed that the burden of ethylene oxide exposure disproportionately affects specific populations:

• Over 14 million people live within five miles of facilities emitting ethylene oxide
• Nearly 60% of those affected identify as people of color
• 31% are from low-income communities

These findings underscore the environmental justice concerns surrounding industrial emissions and their health impacts.

Furthermore, recent research from Johns Hopkins University has cast doubt on the accuracy of EPA risk assessments. The study found that the EPA’s screening tools routinely underestimated ethylene oxide measurements across parts of Louisiana. In some locations, average concentrations were ten times the EPA’s acceptable cancer risk for a lifetime of exposure.

As lawsuits progress and awareness grows, affected communities hope for stricter regulations, better monitoring, and a safer environment. The ongoing legal battles may shape the future of industrial practices and environmental protections, with far-reaching implications for public health. For residents like Flint and McCown, these efforts represent a fight not just for justice but for the health and safety of their communities for generations to come.