She blamed a local plant for causing her cancer. A jury awarded her $363 million

Sue Kamuda is the first of nearly 800 people seeking damages from Sterigenics over the use of ethylene oxide, also known as etO.

By Lynnea Domienik, Daniel Tucker
sterigenics law suit
A protester holds a sign warning against the potential harms of ethylene oxide in Springfield last year. A lawsuit against Sterigenics, which uses the chemical to sterilize medical equipment, claims the company redirected $1.3 billion in an effort to reduce their potential payouts. Courtesy of Stop EtO
sterigenics law suit
A protester holds a sign warning against the potential harms of ethylene oxide in Springfield last year. A lawsuit against Sterigenics, which uses the chemical to sterilize medical equipment, claims the company redirected $1.3 billion in an effort to reduce their potential payouts. Courtesy of Stop EtO

She blamed a local plant for causing her cancer. A jury awarded her $363 million

Sue Kamuda is the first of nearly 800 people seeking damages from Sterigenics over the use of ethylene oxide, also known as etO.

By Lynnea Domienik, Daniel Tucker
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

A Cook County jury on Monday awarded $363 million to a woman who alleged pollution from a sterilization plant near her home gave her cancer.

Sterigenics in Dupage County and two companies in Lake County used the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide in sterilization processes for years before nearby residents began to report higher-than-normal levels of a number of cancers.

Reset learns about the first lawsuit against Sterigenics over use of the known carcinogen.

GUEST: Michael Hawthorne, reporter at the Chicago Tribune