Ethylene oxide (EtO) is used in manufacturing to produce products such as antifreeze, plastics, and adhesives. It is also used to sterilize single-use medical devices and wound care dressings, fumigate certain foods such as spices to eliminate pests, and may be released as a by-product of various human activities.
Eethylene oxide is a flammable, colorless, and reactive gas that is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Inhalation is the primary route of human exposure to ethylene oxide. The World Health Organization, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and other health agencies categorize ethylene oxide as a human carcinogen.
The Ethylene Oxide Emissions (ETO-1, 2023) guidance provides information on ethylene oxide emissions, including regulatory developments, effective risk communication strategies, and technical considerations for sampling, measurement, and analysis. Developed with input from state and federal agencies, industry, and other stakeholders, the resource supports informed decision-making regarding ethylene oxide-related issues.
Topic(s): Air Quality, Contaminants of Emerging Concern, Ethylene Oxide, Risk Communication
