What is ethylene oxide? Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is highly flammable and reactive. Acute EtO exposure can result in a wide range of health conditions including:
- Lung irritation and injury
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Cyanosis
Prolonged, chronic EtO exposure has been associated with:
- Certain cancers
- Reproductive effects
- Mutagenic changes (i.e., alteration of DNA sequence)
- Neurotoxicity (i.e., altering normal nervous system activity)
- Sensitization (i.e., an allergic reaction to repeated exposure)
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new health protections to reduce EtO exposure, including stricter air emissions standards and greater protections for those who work with the gas and communities where residents are regularly exposed to it.
What is Ethylene Oxide Used For?
Ethylene oxide is used to make other chemicals needed to produce a wide variety of products, including textiles, detergents, antifreeze, plastics, and adhesives. Additionally, the gas is used to sterilize and disinfect items that cannot be cleaned by steam, such as medical equipment. Finally, EtO is utilized to sterilize certain food products such as dried herbs, spices, sesame seeds, walnuts, and vegetables.
Who is at Risk for EtO Exposure?
There are a wide variety of careers, industries, and communities vulnerable to EtO contamination and exposure. If new proposed EPA guidelines are not put in place, the EPA calculates the health risks as follows:
Workers Who Apply EtO to Medical Devices in Commercial Sterilization Facilities
One in 17 workers exposed to the gas over the course of their entire career (i.e., 35 years, 8 hours per day) would develop cancer.
Workers Who Apply EtO in Healthcare Facilities
One in 25 workers exposed to the gas over the course of their entire career (i.e., 35 years, 8 hours per day) would develop cancer.
Workers Who Apply EtO to Spices in Commercial Sterilization Facilities
One in 36 workers exposed to the gas over the course of their entire career (i.e., 35 years, 8 hours per day) would develop cancer.
Workers Who Work in Commercial Sterilization Facilities
For those who work in these facilities over the course of their entire career (i.e., 35 years, 8 hours per day) but do not handle EtO directly, there is increased risk.
Workers Who Work Close to Commercial Sterilization Facilities
For those who work close to these facilities over the course of their entire career (i.e., 35 years, 8 hours per day), there is increased risk.
Residents Who Live Near Commercial Sterilization Facilities
For those who live near these facilities for their entire lives (i.e., 70 years, 7 days per week, 24 hours a day), there is increased risk.
Children Who Attend School or Daycare Near Commercial Sterilization Facilities
One in one million children exposed to the gas during the time they spend in school or daycare would develop cancer.
Ethylene Oxide and Cancer
There is a long list of cancers associated with EtO exposure. At Pintas & Mullins, we have represented victims of EtO exposure who have received the following diagnoses:
- Birth defects
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphomas
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriages
- Multiple myeloma/ Myeloma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pediatric cancer
- Stomach cancer
Contact Pintas & Mullins if You’ve Been Injured by EtO Exposure
At Pintas & Mullins, we are deeply experienced in cases where a person has been injured as a result of toxic exposure to ethylene oxide. We are among the largest environmental firms in the country, currently representing more than 10,000 clients affected by environmental disasters across the U.S.
If you or a loved one have experienced EtO exposure and suffered a devastating illness as a result, you are entitled to compensation. Call Pintas & Mullins for a complimentary case evaluation. We want to ensure you get the compensation you deserve and the medical treatment you need.