back to OSHA Safety and Health Topics

Contents
Page last reviewed: 10/30/2006
Highlights
  • Maximize Your Spirometry Screening and Surveillance Resources. OSHA/NIOSH InfoSheet (OSHA Publication 3415), (2011).
  • Protect Yourself - Spirometry Breathing Test. OSHA/NIOSH Worker Info (OSHA Publication 3418), (2011). 
  • OSHA's Small Business Guide for Ethylene Oxide. Also available as a 14 MB PDF, 87 pages. OSHA Publication 3359, (2009, April). Provides guidance to help employers understand the EtO standard, with particular emphasis on how to monitor the quality of the air in workplaces where EtO is processed, used, or handled. Air monitoring is an important activity that can help alert employers when unsafe levels of EtO are present in the air so they can take steps to reduce employee exposure.
  • Hospital. OSHA eTool. Focuses on some of the hazards and controls found in the hospital setting and describes standard requirements as well as recommended safe work practices for employee safety and health.
    • Central Supply. Provides information on hazards and methods of exposure prevention regarding ethylene oxide gas.
Ethylene Oxide - Copyright WARNING: Not all materials on this Web site were created by the federal government. Some content — including both images and text — may be the copyrighted property of others and used by the DOL under a license. Such content generally is accompanied by a copyright notice. It is your responsibility to obtain any necessary permission from the owner's of such material prior to making use of it. You may contact the DOL for details on specific content, but we cannot guarantee the copyright status of such items. Please consult the U.S. Copyright Office at the Library of Congress — http://www.copyright.gov — to search for copyrighted materials.
Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is produced in large volumes and is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of several industrial chemicals, the most notable of which is ethylene glycol. It is also used as a fumigant in certain agricultural products and as a sterilant for medical equipment and supplies. Unfortunately, EtO possesses several physical and health hazards that merit special attention. EtO is both flammable and highly reactive. Acute exposures to EtO gas may result in respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization.

Exposures to ethylene oxide are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, and the construction industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to ethylene oxide.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

  • 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
    • 1926.64, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals.
      • Appendix A, List of highly hazardous chemicals, toxics and reactives (Mandatory). Lists the threshold quantity (TQ) of ethylene oxide for coverage by this standard at 5000 lbs.

  • 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances

Standard Interpretations

Hazard Recognition

Many workers are unaware of the potential hazards in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable to injury. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating ethylene oxide hazards in the workplace.

  • Anthrax spore decontamination using ethylene oxide. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fact Sheet. Provides questions and answers pertaining to ethylene oxide.

  • Ethylene Oxide [47 KB PDF*, 2 pages]. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2002). Answers common questions regarding ethylene oxide.

  • Report on Carcinogens (RoC). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Public Health Services, National Toxicology Program (NTP). Identifies and discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure circumstances that may pose a health hazard due to their carcinogenicity. 
    • Ethylene Oxide [194 KB PDF, 4 pages]. Explains the carcinogenicity, properties, use, production, exposure, and regulations regarding ethylene oxide.

  • Ethylene Oxide. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2000, January). Provides an EPA health effects fact sheet for ethylene oxide.

  • Documentation for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication, (1994, May).
  • Ethylene Oxide. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) International Safety Cards (ICSC), (1994). Provides an international safety data sheet.

  • ToxFAQs for Ethylene Oxide. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (1999, July). Describes health effects and other basic information on ethylene oxide.

  • Ethylene Oxide (EtO): Evidence of Carcinogenicity. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (1981, May 22). Provides information on the carcinogenic hazard of EtO.

  • Use of Ethylene Oxide as a Sterilant in Medical Facilities. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-200, (1977, August). Describes hazards and control measures for EtO.

Exposure Evaluation

Sampling Methods

Possible Solutions

Acute exposures to EtO gas may result in respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization. The following references aid in preventing and controlling exposures to ethylene oxide.

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

Other Resources

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.

*These files are provided for downloading.