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Ethylene Oxide Effects

Ethylene oxide is a flammable, highly reactive, colorless and sweet-smelling gas used as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of detergents, textiles, solvents, antifreeze, medicines, polyurethane foam, adhesives and other products. It's also used as a fumigant on cosmetics, foods and spices, and a sterilant for hospital surgical equipment, supplies and plastic devices not sterilizable by steam. It can be found in factory emissions, contaminated air, smoking tobacco and second-hand smoke.

  1. Acute Effects

    • If inhaled, the gas is distributed quickly throughout the body. Industrial workers exposed to high levels of ethylene oxide for a short period of time can exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, diarrhea, bronchitis, respiratory tract irritation, cyanosis, neurological disorders, emphysema and pulmonary edema. Eye or skin contact with ethylene oxide solutions can cause irritation in these areas in humans. Medical equipment containing ethylene oxide residue has caused renal failure and cardiovascular collapse. Animals have demonstrated high toxicity levels when exposed orally or through inhalation.

    Chronic Effects

    • The non-cancerous effects of a low level exposure for a long period of time will result in irritation of the skin, mucous membranes and eyes, and problems in brain and nerve function. Besides eye irritation, cataracts in human eyes are also possible. Cancer, mutagenic changes, reproductive effects, sensitization and neurotoxicity are also associated with chronic exposure.

    Developmental and Reproductive Effects

    • Inhalation of ethylene oxide can also result in an increase in the rate of miscarriages in female industrial workers. The effects can be both acute and chronic. Exposure in animals has resulted in decreased testicular weight, testicular degeneration, decreased sperm count and decreased number of implantation sites.

    Cancer Effects

    • In workers exposed to ethylene oxide there have been elevated cases of leukemia, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and Hodgkin's disease. Animals inhaling the gas have demonstrated gland, uterine and lung tumors. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers ethylene oxide a probable human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found the gas to be a probable human carcinogen and an animal carcinogen. The toxicity effect on aquatic environments is considered negligible because ethylene oxide will evaporate from water.

    Occupational Effects

    • Ethylene oxide gas also presents explosion and fire hazards. It will burn easily without the presence of oxidizing agents or air. It will interact violently with compounds such as ammonia, organic bases, acids, alcohols, oxidizing agents, bromoethane, alkanethiols and mercaptans.

      Dry chemical powders can be used in extinguishing small ethylene oxide fires. Larger fires should be extinguished with alcohol-resistant foam.

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