The ITRC EtO Team has compiled information from a range of interested parties to develop this interactive guide, including state and federal governments and industry. This resource is intended to inform interested parties about important regulatory developments; technical issues surrounding sampling, measurements, and analysis; and effective communication of 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.