South Bay Company Exposed Workers To Cancer-Causing Chemicals In Cover Up: Prosecutors

CARSON, CA — A medical products manufacturer exposed employees to highly toxic chemicals at its South Bay facility and then tried to cover it up, according to prosecutors.

Parter Medical Products Inc. President and Newport Beach resident, Homoz Foroughi, has been charged with one count each of failure to disclose a serious concealed danger; forgery; filing a false document; disposal of hazardous waste at an unpermitted site; and illegal storage of hazardous waste at a site without a permit, according to prosecutors.

The manager of its Carson facility, where the employees were exposed to the chemicals, Amine Elmziati, a Long Beach resident, faces the same charges, authorities said.

Prosecutors allege company officials were aware that some employees at its Carson facility were being exposed to elevated levels of ethylene oxide for prolonged periods, but failed to take action to mitigate the dangers.

They later tried to cover up the danger by filing false documents and concealing critical safety risks from regulators, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Last month, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office had its Bureau of Investigation department serve a warrant at the company's facility in Carson.

On Monday, the office announced that felony charges had been filed against those they deemed responsible.

“This case sends a clear message: If you expose your workers to dangerous chemicals and then falsify records or mislead regulators, we will come after you,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Ethylene oxide is linked to cancer and other serious health risks. Companies that cut corners and conceal hazards not only endanger lives, they violate the public’s trust."

Hochman also said in a statement that the charges filed Monday should serve as a warning to any business cutting corners and risking the lives of its workers.

Parter Medical Products Inc. had issues related to high levels of ethylene oxide at its Carson facility in the past.

In 2022, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a notice of violation to Parter Sterilization Services after air sampling near the facility showed elevated levels of ethylene oxide.

This led to the company temporarily shutting down its operations for a few months until additional air pollution controls could be implemented.

“No employer should risk the safety of their workers by exposing them to toxic substances and then turn a blind eye,” Hochman said last month. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to follow the evidence wherever it leads and will not hesitate to hold accountable any individual or organization that puts profits over public health."