July 1999 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
Ethylene Oxide |
(Óxido de Etileno) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about ethylene oxide. For more information,
you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous
substances and their health effects. This information is important
because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure
to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration,
how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether
other chemicals are present.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Large amounts of
ethylene oxide are produced in the United States. Most
of it is used to make other chemicals such as ethylene
glycol, but smaller amounts are used as a pesticide or
to sterilize medical equipment. Exposure to ethylene oxide
can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat,
and lungs, and damage to the brain and nerves. It has
been found at 3 of the 1,177 National Priorities List
sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). |
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What
is ethylene oxide? |
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.
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What
happens to ethylene oxide when it enters the environment? |
- Ethylene oxide rapidly breaks down when released to the
environment.
- Because ethylene oxide is a gas, most is expected to be
released to the air where it reacts with water vapor and
sunlight and breaks down within a few days.
- Ethylene oxide will dissolve in water, but most of it
will quickly evaporate to the air. The ethylene oxide remaining
will be broken down by bacteria, or by reacting with water
and other chemicals.
- When released to soil, most will evaporate to air and
some may be broken down by bacteria or by reacting with
water in the soil.
- Ethylene oxide does not persist long in the environment
and is not expected to build up in the food chain.
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How
might I be exposed to ethylene oxide? |
- Most people are not likely to be exposed to ethylene oxide
because it is not commonly found in the environment.
- If you work where ethylene oxide is made or used, you
could be exposed to it by breathing it or getting it on
your skin.
- Although ethylene oxide has been measured in some foods
shortly after being sprayed as a pesticide, it is not known
if any ethylene oxide would remain on the food by the time
it is processed and eaten.
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How
can ethylene oxide affect my health? |
Breathing low levels of ethylene oxide
for several months to years has caused irritation of the eyes,
skin, and respiratory passages and affected the nervous system
(headache, nausea, vomiting, memory loss, numbness, etc.).
At higher levels of exposure for shorter periods, effects
are similar but may be more severe. There is some evidence
that exposure to ethylene oxide can cause a pregnant woman
to have a miscarriage.
Animal studies indicate that in addition
to irritation of the respiratory passages, nervous system
effects, and reproductive effects, the kidneys, adrenal gland,
and skeletal muscles may be affected from long-term exposure
to ethylene oxide.
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How
likely is ethylene oxide to cause cancer? |
Increased incidences of leukemia and
stomach cancer have been reported for workers exposed to ethylene
oxide; however, the data are not considered conclusive. The
carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide has been evaluated in rats
and mice that breathed it. Leukemia, brain tumors, lung tumors,
and other cancers were observed. The Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that ethylene oxide
may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to ethylene
oxide? |
There are two kinds of tests that can
determine if you have been recently exposed to ethylene oxide.
One test measures ethylene oxide in blood and the other test
measures it in your breath. However, these tests cannot be
used to predict how it will affect your health. Because special
equipment is needed, these tests are not usually done in the
doctor's office.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has set a tolerance limit of 50 parts per million (50 ppm)
of ethylene oxide in ground spices. Any release to the environment
greater than 10 pounds must be reported to the EPA.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has set a limit of 1 ppm over an 8-hour workday, 40-hour
workweek with a short-term exposure limit (not to exceed 15
minutes) of 5 ppm.
The National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that average workplace
air should contain less than 0.1 ppm ethylene oxide averaged
over a 10-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.
The federal recommendations have been
updated as of July 1999.
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Glossary |
Carcinogen: A substance that can cause
cancer.
Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Evaporate: To change into a vapor or
a gas.
National Priorities List: A list of the
nation's worst hazardous waste sites.
ppm: Parts per million.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1999. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents.
Volume III Medical Management Guidelines for Acute
Chemical Exposures: Ethylene Oxide. Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1990. Toxicological
Profile for ethylene oxide. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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