Home > Departments > Building & Zoning > Environmental Division

Sterigenics Information

At the end of August 2018, DuPage County, Willowbrook and surrounding communities were made aware of air sampling completed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) around Sterigenics facility located in Willowbrook due to its emission of ethylene oxide (EtO) into the atmosphere. ATSDR completed modeling based on the concentrations of EtO which concluded an increase in cancer risk may exist in the area due to exposure to the chemical.

Below are documents and links with information about County activities as well documents and links to resources about EtO. The Village of Willowbrook has also provided information on their website as well. Questions can be emailed to the U.S. EPA using the following - EtO@epa.gov.

Recent Updates

Below please find court documents including the consent order and proposed legislation.

Sterigenics Statement Regarding Exiting State of Illinois 9-30-19

Chairman Cronin Statement 9-30-19

Sterigenics Notification of Plant Closure 9-30-19

House Bill 3885 9-6-19
House Bill 3888 9-13-19
House Bill 3888 Press Release 9-13-19
Removal of Seal Order 9-10-19
Consent Order & Dismissal 9-11-19
Joint Stipulation & Order 9-11-19
Sterigenics Consent Order Overview FAQ 7-16-19
State of Illinois v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC Proposed Consent Order 7-16-19
Sterigenics Motion to Enter Proposed Consent Order 7-16-19
Sterigenics Consent Order Press Release 7-17-19
State of Illinois Public Act 101-0023 State of Illinois Public Act 101-0022
Amicus Brief Filing Sen. Curran; Rep. Durkin and Rep Mazzochi
County Board Letter to County Legislative Committee Regarding EtO 8-1-19
U.S. Congress Members Letter to U.S. EPA on Sterigenics 7-23-19
Illinois EPA Seal Order 2-5-19

Below please see the IEPA Notice of Public Meeting regarding issuance of a construction permit for Sterigenics.

August 1, 2019; Ashton Place,341 75th Street, Willowbrook; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sterigenics IEPA NESHAP Source Construction Permit Draft July 2019
Sterigenics Fact Sheet July 2019 Application for Construction Permit

Air Testing Results

Ongoing U.S. EPA Air Testing Results and Sampling Map
February 5, 2019 U.S. EPA Webinar
2018 Air Sampling Results
December 10, 2018 Village of Willowbrook Ethylene Oxide Air Monitoring Report
September 27, 2018 Sterigenics Stack Results
September 27, 2018 Sterigenics Announcement Regarding Test Results

Well Testing Announcement

January 9, 2019 Illinois EPA and DuPage County Health Department Report No Contamination of Private Water Wells News Release
November 8, 2018 Illinois EPA & DuPage County Health Dept. Well Water Sampling News Release

DuPage County Letters & Documents

March 29, 2019 Chairman Cronin Responds to Willowbrook Cancer Assessment Study
January 24, 2019 DuPage County Letter to Governor's Office
October 30, 2018 Lawsuit People of the State of Illinois and DuPage County States Atty vs. Sterigenics U.S., LLC
October 30, 2018 Statement Regarding DuPage County Lawsuit Against Sterigenics
October 26, 2018 Chairman Cronin House Testimony
October 26, 2018 Chairman Cronin Statement
September 27, 2018 Chairman Cronin Press Release Regarding U.S. EPA Follow Up Ambient Air Testing
September 25, 2018 Chairman Cronin Letter to U.S. EPA
September 18, 2018 Sen. Curran & Chairman Cronin Letter to Attorney General
September 11, 2018 County Board Resolution
September 3, 2018 Sterigenics Response Letter
August 31, 2018 Letter to Sterigenics

U.S. EPA Public Meeting

On August 29, 2018, a public meeting was held to discuss the report. Representatives from the U.S. EPA Region 5, Illinois EPA, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and Sterigenics. View the archive video of the meeting. The U.S. EPA has also developed a dedicated webpage with additional information regarding the work being done in and around the Sterigenics facility.

November 29, 2018 Public Meeting video. Click here for Q&A submitted at the November 29th Public Meeting.
December 18, 2018 U.S. EPA Webinar Slides
May 29, 2019 Community Meeting Archive
Download pdf for more information. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, a live feed will be available on the Village of Burr Ridge's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/brvillage/events/ . Agenda and Open House Resources. Meeting presentations are posted at the U.S. EPA site.

Other Government Agency Correspondence & Resources

EPA Risk Assessment Report for the Sterigenics Facility in Willowbrook, IL
April 2, 2019 Illinois Senators Letter to U.S. DHS Re: EtO
March 29, 2019 Illinois Dept. of Public Health Cancer Incidence Assessment
March 29, 2019 Illinois Dept. of Public Health Cancer Incidence Press Release
February 13, 2019 U.S. Congressional Letter to U.S. EPA
February 12, 2019 Congressional Members Release Statements on ethylene oxide and U.S. EPA
Casten, Duckworth; Durbin,Schneider
February 12, 2019 Senator Durbin: Sterigenics Statement and Remarks on Senate Floor
January 29, 2019 U.S. Congressional Letter to U.S. EPA
January 29, 2019 Stop Sterigenics Press Release
September 19, 2018 Attorney General Letter to Sen. Curran, Rep. Durkin and Chairman Cronin
July 26, 2018 Dept. of Health & Human Services Letter to US EPA
Illinois EPA website FAQs and information
Village of Willowbrook website for Sterigenics information
U. S. EPA website with ongoing information on Sterigenics

Publications with Information about Ethylene Oxide

Health Resources

ATSDR Health Statement
Great Lakes Center for Children's Environmental Health August 2018 Ethylene Oxide Fact Sheet
U.S. EPA Office of Children's Health Protection - Region 5 Children's Environmental Health
IL ELAP Laboratories
Illinois Environmental Contractors
Illinois EPA Accredited Laboratories
DuPage County Health Dept. Summary

2013 Ethylene Glycol Leak

Sterigenics completed a site investigation and site remediation in 2013 following a detected leak at the site. Details regarding the investigation and associated cleanup can be found on the Illinois EPA's website.