Ethylene oxide (EtO) is used in manufacturing to produce products such as antifreeze, plastics, and adhesives, and 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. It is a flammable, colorless, and reactive gas that is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act, and inhalation is the primary route of human exposure. The World Health Organization, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and other health agencies classify 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 guidance supports informed decision-making regarding ethylene oxide-related issues.
Topic(s): Air Quality, Contaminants of Emerging Concern, Ethylene Oxide, Risk Communication
