What is Ethylene Oxide?
CAS#: 000075-21-8
Ethylene oxide is a flammable gas with a somewhat sweet odor.
It dissolves easily in water.
Ethylene oxide is a man-made chemical that is used primarily
to make ethylene glycol (a chemical used to make antifreeze
and polyester). A small amount (less than 1%) is used to control
insects in some stored agricultural products and a very small
amount is used in hospitals to sterilize medical equipment and
supplies.
Related Resources for Ethylene Oxide
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Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Acute Chemical
Exposures
Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians
and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage
acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
- Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
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Public Health Statement
Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One
of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
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ToxFAQ
Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions
about a contaminant and its health effects.
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Toxicological Profile
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for a hazardous substance.
