By Matthew T. Marin, Esq., member of the American Association for Justice and Mass Torts Made Perfect (MTMP) speaker
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Sterilization Services Henrico, VA — Free Case Review
The Question Is Your Address, Not Your Town.
Two streets in one neighborhood can fall on opposite sides of the line. We check your actual address against EPA’s own model — and tell you either way.
The figures on this page come from EPA’s air-toxics modeling and the facility’s own reported releases, not from us. No claim is decided by a map — it turns on the address, the years, the diagnosis and the law of the state.
Did you live or work near an ethylene oxide plant?
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Matthew T. Marin & Stefanie A. Murphy
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Every ethylene oxide inquiry gets a personal review — and an honest answer either way, free and without obligation.
This page is attorney advertising and legal information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Marin & Murphy Law Firm is licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and South Carolina; a matter in another state would be handled with, or referred to, a lawyer licensed there. Prior results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every claim is evaluated case by case, on its own facts.
Updated September 5, 2025
Marin & Murphy is not licensed in Virginia; a matter there would be handled with, or referred to, a lawyer licensed in that state.
What EPA’s own records show about ethylene oxide at 5674 Eastport Boulevard
EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory holds 22 reporting years of ethylene oxide releases from Sterilization Services of Virginia in Henrico, beginning in 1991 and running through 2024. Across those years the facility reported roughly 122,600 pounds released to air. Releases have risen sharply in recent years: 3,557 pounds in 2019, 4,079 in 2020, 5,025 in 2021, and 13,821 pounds in 2022 — the highest figure in the facility’s record — followed by 9,059 in 2023 and 8,995 in 2024.
EPA’s modelled peak is not at the plant. The plant’s own census tract models at about 58 in one million — and a tract about a mile and a half away at 161.9 in one million, which is 84% of every air toxic EPA models there, with 162.2 per million attributed to stationary point sources. It is one of only 27 census tracts in the United States where ethylene oxide alone exceeds EPA’s 100-in-a-million reference point for a person’s total lifetime cancer risk from all air toxics combined. The modelled figure does not fall off in a neat circle around a plant, which is why distance is measured street to street rather than by ZIP code. The source-type layer names a source type, not a company, and we will not claim otherwise.
In EPA’s 2019 AirToxScreen assessment, the census tract containing the facility carries a modelled lifetime cancer risk from ethylene oxide of about 58 in one million — the largest single contributor among the 72 air toxics EPA models for that tract, ahead of formaldehyde at 19.8 and roughly 26 times the benzene figure. EPA builds AirToxScreen from its National Emissions Inventory rather than from TRI, so the two datasets are not directly comparable; what they show in common is a facility reporting ethylene oxide releases and a surrounding tract EPA models as elevated for the same chemical.
| Distance from the facility | Modelled EtO cancer risk (per million) |
|---|---|
| At the facility, and within about 2 miles | 57.9 |
| About 5 miles | 25.4 |
| About 8 miles | 15.9 |
For context, EPA describes a lifetime cancer risk above 100 in one million — counting every pollutant together — as the threshold at which it identifies a community for closer attention. In the tract around this facility, ethylene oxide alone accounts for roughly 58 of that figure. EPA classifies ethylene oxide as carcinogenic to humans.
Sources: EPA Toxics Release Inventory, facility ID 23231STRLZ5674E, reporting years 1991–2024, release quantities as reported by the facility (the federal record has gaps, including 2003–2013 and 2016). EPA AirToxScreen 2019, census-tract cancer risk by air toxic. Modelled risk figures are EPA estimates for a census tract, not measurements at any individual address, and do not establish the cause of any person’s illness.
The other facilities on the federal record
We pulled EPA’s release history and modelled tract cancer risk for every facility below, one at a time, from EPA’s own databases. The first column is the plant’s own census tract. The second is the highest tract whose centre lies within four miles — because at several of these sites the model does not peak at the plant. It peaks in a neighbourhood nearby, and the difference is not small. They are not close to each other, and that is the point: the same litigation covers plants whose records differ by three orders of magnitude.
| Facility | The plant’s own census tract | Highest tract within four miles | Where that tract is | Ethylene oxide’s share of it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becton Dickinson, Covington GA | 347.9 | 347.9 | the plant’s own tract | 90.9% |
| Sterigenics, Vernon CA | 21.1 | 172.8 | 0.3 mi away | 84.9% |
| Sterilization Services of Virginia, Henrico VA | 57.9 | 161.9 | 1.6 mi away | 84.0% |
| B. Braun, Allentown PA | 46.7 | 46.7 | the plant’s own tract | 62.7% |
| Boston Scientific, Coventry RI | 46.2 | 46.2 | the plant’s own tract | 71.8% |
| Steris-Isomedix, Spartanburg SC | 43.1 | 43.1 | the plant’s own tract | 57.2% |
| Covidien, North Haven CT | 4.8 | 12.5 | 1.0 mi away | 36.8% |
| Professional Contract Sterilization, Taunton MA | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.2 mi away | 9.8% |
| Steris-Isomedix, Northborough MA | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2.1 mi away | 5.3% |
Both columns are EPA AirToxScreen 2019. The first is a point query at the facility address; the second is the highest value among tracts whose published centroid lies within four miles, each confirmed by a second query against EPA’s service by feature id. A modelled tract figure is not a measurement of what any person breathed, and it does not establish that any facility caused any illness.
Covidien’s North Haven plant is the one site here whose two records diverge most: 77,492 pounds reported released to air across 38 filing years since 1987, against a modelled tract figure in the single digits. The release record and the modelled risk are different measures and they do not have to agree.
If the plant nearest you is not on this list, it may still be one we are looking at — the list of facilities being accepted changes, and we track more than we have written pages for.
Was your address inside the area?
Most people who lived near a sterilizing plant never knew it was there. There is nothing to see from the road, ethylene oxide has no smell at the concentrations that matter, and the emissions numbers sit in a federal database almost nobody reads. So the honest starting point is not do I have a case. It is: was my home inside the area, and is my diagnosis one of the ones being accepted?
Three things decide that.
- Where you lived. Distance is measured street to street from 5674 Eastport Boulevard in Henrico, not by town or ZIP code. EPA models the plant’s own census tract at about 58 in a million for ethylene oxide, about 25 at five miles and 16 at eight.
- How long. The cases currently being accepted in this litigation generally require about a year of living in the area, after the plant began operating. Every claim is evaluated case by case, on its own facts and on the evidence available to pursue a claim at that particular site. The emissions figures on this page are the public record; they are not a list of which years count, and at some sites the two do not line up. Tell us the years you lived there and we will tell you where they fall.
- Your diagnosis. Leukemia and lymphoma are the diagnoses most consistently accepted. Others are assessed individually, and some are not being accepted at all — we will tell you which category yours falls into rather than leave you guessing.
If your address is outside the area, we will say so plainly. We keep the details on file either way, because the facilities and diagnoses being accepted change over time and a claim can be revisited — but you will not be chased.
You do not need medical records, an address history, or anything else to ask. One call or one form is enough to find out which side of the line you were on, and roughly how long a claim of this kind takes. Free case review, and there is no fee unless there is a recovery.
If you or a loved one lived or worked near the Sterilization Services of Virginia (SSV) facility at 5674 Eastport Blvd in Henrico, Virginia, and have been diagnosed with certain cancers, you may have questions about potential links to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions. This Sterilization Services of Virginia EtO lawsuit guide provides educational info on Henrico, VA ethylene oxide exposure risks.
As a law firm with experience in environmental mass torts—we’re providing this educational information on EtO risks Virginia based on public EPA data. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have a claim related to EtO cancer lawsuit or Henrico, VA ethylene oxide exposure, we recommend consulting a Virginia-licensed attorney experienced in environmental litigation.
Cancers Linked to Ethylene Oxide Exposure
Leukemia (all types), non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer
EtO is a colorless gas used for sterilizing medical devices. But it’s also a known carcinogen according to the EPA. Prolonged exposure has been associated with increased risks of cancers such as leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and breast cancer.
This page explains EtO Risks Virginia-specific, based on public EPA data. For personalized legal guidance on potential Sterilization Services of Virginia EtO Lawsuit or SSV cancer lawsuit claims in Virginia, contact a local Virginia-barred attorney.
What Is Ethylene Oxide (EtO) and Why Is It a Concern for SSV EtO Exposure in VA?
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a chemical used in sterilization processes at facilities like Sterilization Services of Virginia (SSV) in Henrico. The facility at 5674 Eastport Blvd has operated since 1990. It uses EtO for sterilizing medical equipment.
According to EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data, the Henrico facility is one of 23 nationwide flagged for high EtO emissions. This is due to usage volumes and community proximity risks. Historical data shows ongoing emissions. EPA notes reductions under new 2024 NESHAP rules. Status as of September 2026: on 17 March 2026 EPA proposed to repeal the 2024 commercial-sterilizer rule, citing legal, scientific and medical-supply concerns. That proposal has not been finalised, so the 2024 standards remain in effect while the reconsideration is pending. But it still flags cancer risks for EtO Risks Virginia concerns, including Henrico VA ethylene oxide exposure.
The EPA highlights environmental justice concerns for ~109,000 residents within 5 miles. This includes vulnerable populations like children near schools. EtO is genotoxic. It can damage DNA and lead to cancers with latencies of 2-5 years or more from first exposure. Learn more about EtO lawsuits.
How EtO Emissions from SSV May Link to Cancer in Henrico VA
EtO emissions from SSV can spread through air. This poses Henrico VA ethylene oxide exposure risks to nearby residents and workers. EPA studies show inhalation of EtO over time increases cancer odds.
For example, communities near SSV face elevated SSV cancer lawsuit potential. This is based on EPA EtO emissions Henrico data. Cancers like leukemia may develop after cancer latency EtO periods. If you’ve been exposed, review your health history. Consult a VA attorney for Sterilization Services of Virginia EtO lawsuit options. See our PFAS experience for similar cases.
2025 EPA Updates on SSV Henrico Facility Risks
In 2025, EPA updated risk assessments for SSV. New data shows maximum cancer risks of 1,000 per million near the site. This assumes 70-year exposure.
Updates include voluntary reductions by SSV, like a new wet scrubber in 2023. It cut emissions by ~50%. But legacy EPA EtO emissions Henrico remain a concern. No local monitoring exists yet. Community outreach in 2023 included webinars. For latest on EtO risks Virginia, check EPA sites. This info aids understanding Henrico VA ethylene oxide exposure for potential claims.
EPA’s focus on 88+ sterilizers nationwide highlights SSV. UCS reports note 726,000 Virginians near EtO sites. Disproportionate impacts on communities of color. EPA EtO page.
EPA Data Summary on EtO Emissions at the Henrico Facility
The Sterilization Services of Virginia (SSV) facility at 5674 Eastport Blvd in Henrico, VA (ZIP 23231) has been active since 1990. It uses ethylene oxide (EtO) for sterilizing medical devices. This process is regulated by the EPA due to EtO’s classification as a human carcinogen via inhalation.
Key EPA insights include
- Historical Emissions and Reporting The facility reports to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) due to high volumes and community risks. In 2021, it emitted 5,025 lbs of EtO. As of 2024 TRI submissions (due July 2025), ongoing emissions are noted with reductions under new rules. But legacy exposures post-1990 remain a concern for Sterilization Services of Virginia EtO lawsuit. In 2022 national data, 26 facilities managed >6 million lbs EtO waste, with 9,166 lbs released to air (43% decrease from 2013-2022).
- Current Regulations Under the EPA’s 2024 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) amendments, the facility must reduce EtO emissions by 90% by 2026. This includes stricter controls on point source and room air emissions. The site is flagged for environmental justice concerns affecting ~109,000 residents within 5 miles, including ~100 schools and childcare centers.
- Health Risk Assessments EPA’s 2016 Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment links long-term EtO inhalation to multi-site cancers, with modeled risks ≥100-in-1 million in blue zones near SSV (maximum 1,000-in-1 million), decreasing with distance. 2025 updates highlight no new controls planned beyond 2024 rules and no local EtO monitoring, with 2023 community outreach including webinars.
Key Health Risks Linked to EtO (Based on EPA and NIOSH Studies)
- Leukemias (all types).
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
- Multiple Myeloma.
- Lung Cancer (limited to non-smokers).
- Breast Cancer.
Potential Claimants: Do You Meet the Criteria for an EtO Exposure Claim?
Drawing from EtO litigation trends (e.g., Sterigenics’ $363 million jury award in 2022 and ongoing settlements in 2025), potential claims focus on qualified individuals without statute of limitations issues. Priorities include
- Residents — recent diagnosis – Lived near the facility for a sustained period after it began operating, and diagnosed in roughly the past five years with leukemia (any type), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, or lung cancer in someone who did not smoke.
- Residents — older diagnosis – Lived nearby, particularly during the years before emission controls were installed, and diagnosed at any time with leukemia, lymphoma, or a less common subtype of breast cancer. There is no cutoff based on how long ago the diagnosis was made.
- Family members – Relatives of someone who has died and who met either description above (wrongful death claims under Virginia law).
- Workers – Working at the plant is not by itself a basis for these claims, which are residential. Someone who worked there may still qualify if they also lived nearby for a sustained period, so it is worth checking rather than assuming otherwise.
Addresses are measured street-to-street, not by ZIP code, so it is worth asking even if you are unsure. If your diagnosis or address falls outside these descriptions, we still want the details — the facilities and diagnoses being accepted change over time, and we keep a complete file so a claim can be revisited. Free case review, and there is no fee unless there is a recovery.
Court costs and litigation expenses are advanced by counsel and repaid from the recovery. You are not responsible for court costs or litigation expenses if there is no recovery, unless a court directs otherwise. The attorney’s fee is a percentage of the gross recovery, calculated before expenses are deducted.
Latency Periods Reported in Published Studies (For Educational Purposes Only)
| Cancer Type | Latency Reported in Published Studies | Additional Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Leukemias (All) | 5 years | None |
| Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | 2 years | None |
| Multiple Myeloma | 2 years | None |
| Liver Cancer | 2 years | Non/light drinker, younger age |
| Lung Cancer | 2 years | Non-smoker |
| Breast Cancer | 5 years | None |
Our Firm’s Experience in Environmental Mass Torts
- Experience: Led by founding partner Matthew Marin, who has over 17 years in mass tort litigation. These link to injuries like kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, and thyroid disease. Additionally, our team handles toxic-exposure litigation, Matthew Marin’s personal connection drives our commitment: “My father was an environmental scientist and was exposed; he spent most of his adult life suffering. It’s important personally for me and for the victims of this past water contamination to step forward and hold 3M and DuPont accountable.”
At Marin & Murphy Law Firm, our track record in environmental torts demonstrates our commitment to education on issues like EtO emissions. While each case is unique and past outcomes don’t guarantee future success, our experience in similar genotoxic carcinogen claims positions us to provide reliable information. We focus on accurate, educational resources. We handle complex claims involving genotoxic carcinogens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on EtO Exposure in Henrico, VA
How recent does the diagnosis have to be?
More recent than most people expect, and this is the single most common reason a file that looks strong on the map goes nowhere. The cases currently being accepted in this litigation weigh how recently the diagnosis was made, not only what the diagnosis was. If yours is an older one, say so at the start rather than at the end — it changes which lane a claim belongs in, and you are better served knowing that on the first call.
Click the questions below for additional information on Henrico VA ethylene oxide exposure near SSV in Henrico, VA
What is an SSV ethylene oxide exposure claim?
How to find an SSV cancer attorney?
What is SSV EtO cancer claim eligibility?
What are SSV ethylene oxide exposure risks?
What is the SSV Henrico VA ethylene oxide claim process?
What is SSV corporation sterilization plant claim compensation?
What cancers qualify for an SSV leukemia claim or SSV multiple myeloma claim?
Can I file a Henrico VA ethylene oxide claim?
What is a Henrico VA sterilizer claim?
What is SSV ethylene oxide exposure attorney experience?
What documents do I need for a sterilization services of Virginia EtO lawsuit?
What is the statute of limitations for EtO risks Virginia claims?
Does EtO cause birth defects in Henrico VA exposure cases?
How does EtO affect workers at SSV facilities?
Is EtO naturally produced in the body?
What steps to file an EtO claim in Virginia?
Can family members file wrongful death claims for SSV EtO exposure?
How to prove EtO exposure in Henrico VA?
What are average settlements for EtO lawsuits?
Are there class actions for SSV EtO claims?
Other ethylene oxide plants on the federal record
Ethylene oxide is reported to EPA at plants across the country, and the federal record is not the same at any two of them. A claim turns on the plant a person actually lived near, so if your address was closer to one of these, start there instead:
- Sterilization Services, Memphis TN — same operator
- B. Braun, Allentown PA
You can read EPA’s modelled risk for every census tract around these plants, side by side, in our EtO census-tract risk index.
Naming an operator is not an allegation that it caused any individual’s illness. Whether a person has a claim depends on their address, their years there, their diagnosis and the law of their state.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ETHYLENE OXIDE RISKS TODAY
If exposure to ethylene oxide from the SSV facility in Henrico has left you or a loved one struggling with cancer or other health issues, resources are available. At the Marin & Murphy Law Firm, we provide educational information on cases involving leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other cancers linked to EtO emissions. For legal options in Virginia, consult a Virginia-licensed attorney. Explore general EtO resources.
Deadlines Apply to EtO Claims
Dealing with EtO-related cancers is hard enough without wondering what to do next. Review public EPA resources and contact a Virginia-barred attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation. They can explain your options. Claims can have deadlines (e.g., 2 years from discovery in VA), so it is worth having your situation reviewed by counsel licensed in Virginia. See similar environmental cases.
Disclaimer The case results described above are provided for informational purposes only and reflect outcomes achieved in specific matters handled by Marin & Murphy Law Firm. This page is legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Each legal matter is unique, and the success of any case depends on its specific factual and legal circumstances, which may differ significantly from those in the cases referenced. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Educational purposes only; not legal advice. Past results no guarantee. Consult VA attorney.