Sterigenics Could Have Cut Toxic Emissions Earlier, Jury Told

The former CEO of industrial sterilization company Sterigenics testified Friday that he knew ethylene oxide was a dangerous chemical when he became the company's top executive in 2011, but he issued no directive to tighten up inconsistent emissions controls across the firm's facilities.

Michael Mulhern testified that one of his major responsibilities as chief executive was ensuring the safety of the company's employees and residents near its facilities, including Sue Kamuda, an Illinois resident who is bringing claims that emissions from the company's Willowbrook plant were at least in part the reason she developed an aggressive form of breast cancer.