Ethylene Oxide Statistics in Taunton
Highest in the United States
National EtO wastewater discharge ranking
Professional Contract Sterilization
Facility operator
Exempted from 2024 NESHAP rules
Trump EPA exemption status
Active filings in state and federal court
Community cancer claims
Courts in Taunton, Massachusetts
Bristol County Superior Court
9 Court St, Taunton, MA 02780
U.S. District Court — District of Massachusetts
1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
Hospitals & Trauma Centers in Taunton
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Southcoast Health — Charlton Memorial Hospital
363 Highland Ave, Fall River, MA 02720
Liability Considerations in Taunton
The Highest EtO Wastewater Discharges in America
Professional Contract Sterilization's Taunton facility is unique among EtO emitters because it leads the nation in ethylene oxide wastewater discharges. While most EtO litigation focuses on airborne emissions, the Taunton facility creates an additional exposure pathway through its wastewater — introducing EtO into the local water treatment system and potentially contaminating groundwater. This dual exposure pathway (air + water) significantly strengthens the case for nearby residents because it demonstrates both negligent air emission control and negligent wastewater management.
EPA's Toxics Release Inventory data confirms the scale of the discharge. The facility's wastewater EtO levels dwarf those of other sterilization operations nationally. For plaintiffs, this data provides concrete, government-documented evidence of the company's failure to control its EtO releases through all pathways — a failure that directly caused community exposure.
Trump Exemption and Massachusetts Tort Law Advantages
The Trump administration's decision to exempt the Taunton facility from the 2024 EPA NESHAP emission standards means that Professional Contract Sterilization is not required to install the enhanced pollution controls that other facilities must adopt. This exemption effectively leaves Taunton residents without the regulatory protection that the 2024 rules were designed to provide — a fact that will be central to the litigation narrative.
Massachusetts tort law provides several advantages for EtO plaintiffs. The state has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury with a strong discovery rule. Massachusetts also recognizes strict liability for abnormally dangerous activities, and a court could find that operating an EtO sterilization facility with the nation's highest wastewater discharges qualifies. The state's consumer protection statute (Chapter 93A) may provide additional theories. Massachusetts does not cap compensatory damages in personal injury cases, and punitive damages are available under 93A for willful or knowing violations.