DuPage County Sterigenics plant faces air pollution lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A suburban Chicago plant that sterilizes medical instruments faces a lawsuit alleging air pollution violations.

Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Republican DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin filed suit Tuesday against Sterigenics U.S.

It accuses the Willowbrook plant of "causing, threatening or allowing air pollution" and of a public health-risk nuisance.

Sterigenics issued a statement saying the lawsuit recognizes that the company "continues to operate well within" permitted limits.

Sterigenics uses ethylene oxide gas to sterilize medical instruments. The company says it's the only process federally approved. The lawsuit seeks to halt emissions because federal regulators now consider the gas a carcinogen.

Madigan has accused GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner of hiding federal data on the plant received last winter. Rauner says his administration urged her to take action.