Ethylene oxide is a flammable gas with a slightly sweet smell. It is a manufactured chemical that dissolves easily in water and is used primarily to make ethylene glycol (a chemical used in the manufacture of antifreeze and polyester). A very small amount is used to control insects in some stored agricultural products and an even smaller amount is used in hospitals to sterilize medical equipment. 

How You Are Exposed

Ethylene oxide breaks down rapidly and does not persist long in the environment so most people are not likely to be exposed to it. However, if you work where it is made or used, you may be exposed to it in the air or by getting it on your skin. Although ethylene oxide is found in certain pesticides, it is unknown whether the chemical is still present on the food by the time it is eaten. 

How Can Ethylene Oxide Affect Your Health?

Breathing low levels of ethylene oxide for several months or years has caused irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory passages and affected the nervous system with symptoms including headache, nausea, numbness, and memory loss. High levels of exposure for shorter periods of time result in similar symptoms but they may be more severe. Evidence also indicates that ethylene oxide exposure can cause a pregnancy to miscarry. Some studies have also found an increased incidence of leukemia and stomach cancer in workers exposed to the chemical and although the data are not considered conclusive, the DHHS has determined that it may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Some animal studies have found that the kidneys, adrenal gland, and skeletal muscles may also be affected from long-term exposure.