Chemical Name:

Ethylene Oxide

Formula:

C₂H₄O

CAS #:

75-21-8

Synonyms:

Dihydrooxirene Dimethylene Oxide Epoxyethane 1,2-Epoxyethane Ethene Oxide Oxacyclopropane Oxidoethane Oxirane Amprolene Anprolene Anproline Ent-26263 E.O. Ethox ETO Merpol Oxane Alpha, Beta-Oxidoethane Oxiran Oxirene, Dihydro- Oxyfume Oxyfume 12 Sterilizing Gas Ethylene Oxide 100%  T-Gas

Exposure limits:

TLV: 1 ppm; 1.8 mg/m³ (as TWA) A2 (Suspected Human Carcinogen) (ACGIH 1994-1995).
OSHA PEL: 1910.1047 TWA 1 ppm 5 ppm 15-minute Excursion
NIOSH REL: Ca TWA <0.1 ppm (0.18 mg/m³) C 5 ppm (9 mg/m³) 10-min/day
NIOSH IDLH: Potential occupational carcinogen 800 ppm

Uses:

This compound is used as an intermediate in the production of ethylene glycol, as an intermediate for polyethylene terephthalate polyester fiber and film production, and in the manufacture of non-ionic surface-active agents, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, ethanolamines, choline and choline chloride, and other organic chemicals.  It is also used as a fungicide for treatment by fumigation of books; dental, pharmaceutical, medical and scientific equipment and supplies (glass, metals, plastics, rubber or textiles), drugs, leather, motor oil, paper, soil, bedding for experimental animals, clothing, furs, furniture and transportation vehicles (jet aircraft, buses and railroad passenger cars).  It is also used to sterilize foodstuffs such as spices, cocoa, flour, dried egg powder, desiccated coconut, dried fruits and dehydrated vegetables.  It is used to accelerate the maturing of tobacco leaves.  It is also used as a rocket propellant, to sterilize surgical instruments, as a starting material for the manufacture of acrylonitrile, as a petroleum demulsifier and as an industrial sterilant (e.g. medical plastic tubing).

Some consumer products that may contain ethylene oxide include:

Fungicides, cleaning products

Routes of Exposure:

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and through the skin in water solution.

Symptoms of exposure:

Irritation of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes, nose, throat and upper respiratory tract; peculiar taste; headache; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; dyspnea (breathing difficulty), cyanosis, pulmonary edema; drowsiness, lassitude (weakness, exhaustion), incoordination; EKG abnormalities; eye, skin burns (liquid or high vapor concentration); liquid: frostbite; reproductive effects; [potential occupational carcinogen]; in animals: convulsions; liver, kidney damage. Other symptoms include convulsions, olfactory and pulmonary changes, and in high concentrations, pulmonary edema.  It can cause bronchitis, coma, conjunctivitis, corneal damage and delayed burns and blistering. It can also cause headache, toxic dermatitis with large bullae, and in high concentrations, unconsciousness and seizures.  Anesthesia may occur.  Drowsiness may also occur.  Exposure may cause erythema, marked desquamation, and formation of residual pigment, urticarial wheal, weakness, dullness of head, stupor, coughing and bradycardia. It may also cause loss of taste and smell, incoordination, dyspnea, cyanosis, hemolysis, sensitization, anaphylaxis, kidney damage and death.  Chronic exposure may lead to lymphocytosis, peripheral neuropathy, chromosomal damage to lymphocytes and leukemia.  Liver damage may occur. Severe dermatitis may also occur.  Other symptoms include diarrhea, vertigo and central nervous system depression.  This compound can cause frostbite, gastric irritation, lung injury, shortness of breath, reproductive effects and neurotoxicity.  It can also cause redness, edema and ulceration of the skin, and encephalopathy (rare).  Necrosis of the skin has been reported.  Difficult breathing may occur.  Exposure may also cause emphysema.

Target organs:

Eyes, skin, respiratory system, liver, central nervous system, blood, kidneys, reproductive system

Inhalation risk:

A harmful concentration of this gas in the air will be reached very quickly on loss of containment.

Effects of short-term exposure:

The substance irritates the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract. Inhalation of very high concentrations may cause lung edema. Water solutions may cause skin burns. Rapid evaporation of the liquid may cause frostbite. The substance may cause effects on the eyes, resulting in delayed development of cataract.

Effects of long-term or repeated exposure:

Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis in water solutions. Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization. The substance may have effects on the nervous system. This substance is carcinogenic to humans [peritoneal cancer, leukemia]. May cause heritable genetic damage in humans.

Special Warnings:

SAX TOXICITY EVALUATION:  THR: Poison by ingestion, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intravenous and possibly other routes.  Moderately toxic by inhalation.  A suspected human carcinogen.  An experimental carcinogen, tumorigen, neoplastigen and teratogen.  Experimental reproductive effects.  Mutagenic data. A human skin irritant and experimental eye irritant.  An irritant to the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.