B. Braun Cancer Lawsuits
People working in and living around the B. Braun company in Allentown Pennsylvania may be at an increased risk of developing cancer. The community around this manufacturing facility has a higher than normal rate of people with cancer. In this article, we share the details of B. Braun cancer lawsuits.
Update 12/2024: A case involving B. Braun and a former employee who developed cancer ended and found B. Braun not liable in this situation. This will make it more difficult for others in similar situations to have a successful claim. B. Braun has settled or successfully defended nearly all open claims.
Update 02/2025: Kane & Silverman is no longer accepting this type of claim.
What Is B. Braun?
B. Braun is also known as B. Braun Medical Inc. This company produces medical products for the healthcare industry. in 2020, B. Braun Medical Inc. reported $7.5 billion in profits worldwide.
B. Braun has several facilities in the US, including a facility in Allentown Pennsylvania. For more than four decades, B. Braun has operated in the Lehigh Valley area. The Allentown facility uses ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment.
Ethylene Oxide
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is regulated by the EPA. Companies must have a specific permit to possess use ethylene oxide. Additionally, the company must follow specific rules in the handling and disposal of ethylene oxide. B. Braun uses ethylene oxide to sterilize and clean their medical products without damaging them.
At room temperature, ethylene oxide is a gas. This gas is colorless and may have a slightly sweet odor. While this gas may be safe to sterilize medical products, it is not safe for people.
Ethylene oxide is a known human carcinogen. B. Braun Medical is the largest polluter of ethylene oxide in Pennsylvania and the 12th largest in the United States.
In 2016, the EPA released the results of a study. The study discovered ethylene oxide was 30 times more carcinogenic than previously believed. The EPA states new rules are coming in 2023, but that does little to help those already harmed by ethylene oxide gas.
Ethylene Oxide Causes Cancer
Ethylene oxide is known to cause specific types of cancer. Additionally, exposure can also lead to specific other health problems. Many of the associated health problems take years to develop and require a doctor’s diagnosis. People exposed to ethylene oxide may develop the following health problems:
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- lymphatic leukemia
- myeloma
- lung cancer
- breast cancer
- brain cancer
- miscarriage
People living as far as 2 miles from the B. Braun facility have a higher risk of developing the listed health problems. Some experts believe people working in the facility are 200 times more likely to develop cancer as a result of ongoing exposure.
B. Braun In The News
Over the years, B. Braun’s Allentown facility has been in the news for releasing large amounts of ethylene oxide into the surrounding community. For decades, people working in and living or working near the Braun facility have been exposed to higher levels of ethylene oxide. Most people have been exposed without any warning.
In 2020, the EPA required 16 facilities that use ethylene oxide to warn local residents of the risk. The list of facilities included B. Braun in Allentown. However, there is no evidence B. Braun ever warned anyone – including employees.