This technical guidance provides information on ethylene oxide (EtO) 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 EtO-related issues.
EtO is used in the manufacturing process to make products (e.g., antifreeze, plastics, adhesives), to sterilize products (e.g., single-use medical devices, wound care dressings), to fumigate and eradicate pests from some foods (e.g., spices), and can be a by-product of anthropogenic activities.
EtO 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 EtO. The World Health Organization, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and other health agencies categorize EtO as a human carcinogen.
Topic(s): Air Quality, Contaminants of Emerging Concern, Ethylene Oxide
