ToxFAQsâ„¢ for Ethylene Oxide

(Óxido de Etileno)

July 1999

CAS#: 75-21-8

PDF Version, 76 KB

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This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions about ethylene oxide. For more information, you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. It is important you understand this information because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.

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Highlights

Large amounts of ethylene oxide are produced in the United States. Most of it is used to make other chemicals such as ethylene glycol, but smaller amounts are used as a pesticide or to sterilize medical equipment. Exposure to ethylene oxide can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and damage to the brain and nerves. It has been found at 3 of the 1,177 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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What is ethylene oxide?

Ethylene oxide is a flammable gas with a somewhat sweet odor. It dissolves easily in water.

Ethylene oxide is a man-made chemical that is used primarily to make ethylene glycol (a chemical used to make antifreeze and polyester). A small amount (less than 1%) is used to control insects in some stored agricultural products and a very small amount is used in hospitals to sterilize medical equipment and supplies.

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What happens to ethylene oxide when it enters the environment?

• Ethylene oxide rapidly breaks down when released to the environment.
• Because ethylene oxide is a gas, most is expected to be released to the air where it reacts with water vapor and sunlight and breaks down within a few days.
• Ethylene oxide will dissolve in water, but most of it will quickly evaporate to the air. The ethylene oxide remaining will be broken down by bacteria, or by reacting with water and other chemicals.
• When released to soil, most will evaporate to air and some may be broken down by bacteria or by reacting with water in the soil.
• Ethylene oxide does not persist long in the environment and is not expected to build up in the food chain.

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How might I be exposed to ethylene oxide?

• Most people are not likely to be exposed to ethylene oxide because it is not commonly found in the environment.
• If you work where ethylene oxide is made or used, you could be exposed to it by breathing it or getting it on your skin.
• Although ethylene oxide has been measured in some foods shortly after being sprayed as a pesticide, it is not known if any ethylene oxide would remain on the food by the time it is processed and eaten.

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How can ethylene oxide affect my health?

Breathing low levels of ethylene oxide for several months to years has caused irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory passages and affected the nervous system (headache, nausea, vomiting, memory loss, numbness, etc.). At higher levels of exposure for shorter periods, effects are similar but may be more severe. There is some evidence that exposure to ethylene oxide can cause a pregnant woman to have a miscarriage.

Animal studies indicate that in addition to irritation of the respiratory passages, nervous system effects, and reproductive effects, the kidneys, adrenal gland, and skeletal muscles may be affected from long-term exposure to ethylene oxide.

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How likely is ethylene oxide to cause cancer?

Increased incidences of leukemia and stomach cancer have been reported for workers exposed to ethylene oxide; however, the data are not considered conclusive. The carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide has been evaluated in rats and mice that breathed it. Leukemia, brain tumors, lung tumors, and other cancers were observed. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that ethylene oxide may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen.

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Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to ethylene oxide?

There are two kinds of tests that can determine if you have been recently exposed to ethylene oxide. One test measures ethylene oxide in blood and the other test measures it in your breath. However, these tests cannot be used to predict how it will affect your health. Because special equipment is needed, these tests are not usually done in the doctor's office.

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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a tolerance limit of 50 parts per million (50 ppm) of ethylene oxide in ground spices. Any release to the environment greater than 10 pounds must be reported to the EPA.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a limit of 1 ppm over an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek with a short-term exposure limit (not to exceed 15 minutes) of 5 ppm.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that average workplace air should contain less than 0.1 ppm ethylene oxide averaged over a 10-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.

The federal recommendations have been updated as of July 1999.

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Glossary

Carcinogen: A substance that can cause cancer.

Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.

CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.

Evaporate: To change into a vapor or a gas.

National Priorities List: A list of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites.

ppm: Parts per million.

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue.

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References

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 1999. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents. Volume III - Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures: Ethylene Oxide. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 1990. Toxicological Profile for ethylene oxide. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.

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Where can I get more information?

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:

For more information, contact:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-57
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO · 888-232-6348 (TTY)
Email: Contact CDC-INFO

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.

Information line and technical assistance:
Phone: 888-422-8737

To order toxicological profiles, contact:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000

Disclaimer
Some PDF files may be electronic conversions from paper copy or other electronic ASCII text files. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors. Users are referred to the original paper copy of the toxicological profile for the official text, figures, and tables. Original paper copies can be obtained via the directions on the toxicological profile home page, which also contains other important information about the profiles.

The information contained here was correct at the time of publication. Please check with the appropriate agency for any changes to the regulations or guidelines cited.