Lakewood residents at elevated risk of cancer cases from Terumo plant

Lakewood residents are at elevated cancer danger from releases of toxic ethylene oxide by the Terumo BCT medical equipment sterilization plant in their neighborhood, according to a new assessment from the Environmental Protection Agency targeting the riskiest sites in the nation. 

The EPA said Wednesday it is making a new push to educate neighbors “on specific facilities where lifetime risk levels are the highest,” and said some areas close to the Lakewood facility risk six extra cases of cancer for every 10,000 people exposed for 70 years.

“This is a worst-case scenario that assumes a person stays in the highest risk area 24 hours a day continuously for 70 years,” the EPA…