Georgia Injury Attorney Blog
This week, citizens in Smyrna and Covington learned that the EPA has identified their communities as having elevated cancer risks due to the release of a toxic gas called ethylene oxide. In Smyrna, the plant that releases ethylene oxide is run by Sterigenics, and in Covington, the plant is known as BD Bard. The EPA confirmed that ethylene oxide is a carcinogen in 2016, having previously found it was a probable carcinogen, and further determined it was 30 times more likely to cause certain cancers than scientists had known. Scientific studies have linked exposure to ethylene oxide to a variety of cancers, including Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Leukemia, and Breast Cancer. If you live in those affected areas, you can protect your loved ones by:
- Organizing with your neighbors and being vocal, especially to the media.
- Demand that the polluter cease emitting ethylene oxide into your community’s air.
- Demand local, state, and federal agencies step in and help. Call your local, state, and federal elected officials!
- Speak with your physician if you think you or anyone you know may be affected
If you live in or near the affected communities of Smyrna and Covington and have been diagnosed with cancer, or had family members die from cancer, contact our office to discuss your options. 404-622-5337