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Evaluation of the Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (External Review Draft)
Federal Register Notices
Contact
- Henry Kahn
- by phone at: 703-347-8591
- by email at: kahn.henry@epa.gov
Notice
[11/01/06] EPA released the NCEA EtO Peer Review Charges and Memo to SAB for the Review.
This draft assessment document characterizes the potential for a carcinogenic health hazard from human inhalation exposure to EtO. When finalized, this assessment will be posted to EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database.Background
Ethylene Oxide (EtO) is a gas at room temperature used in chemical manufacturing and as a sterilizing agent for medical equipment and a fumigating agent for spices. Human exposure occurs in occupations involving contact with the gas in production facilities and hospitals that sterilize medical equipment. EtO can also be inhaled by residents living near production or sterilizing/fumigating facilities.
History/Chronology
| Apr 1984 | EPA Relseased the Health Assessment Document for Ethylene Oxide (External Review Draft)(EPA-600/8-84/009A). |
| Jun 1985 | EPA published the Health Assessment Document for Ethylene Oxide (Final). |
| Dec 1998 | EPA begins work on new assessment of carcinogenicity of EtO. |
| Mar 2006 | Completion of internal EPA review of draft assessment of carcinogenicity of EtO. |
| Aug 2006 | Completion of external Federal agencies review of EPA’s draft assessment of carcinogenicity of EtO. |
| Sep 2006 | EPA announced the 30-day public comment period in a September 22 Federal Register Notice. |
| Oct 2006 | EPA announced an extension from 30-day to 60-day public comment period in an October 12, 2006 Federal Register Notice. |
| Oct 2006 | There was a correction made to the document, as described in the October 20, 2006 Federal Register Notice. |
| Nov 2006 | EPA released the NCEA EtO Peer Review Charges and Memo to the SAB for their Review. |
Next Steps
Following review by the Science Advisory Board and consideration of public comments received, the Agency will finalize the EtO carcinogenicity document and place it in EPA’s IRIS data base.
Downloads/Related Links
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.
- Evaluation of the Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (PDF) (164 pp, 3 MB, about PDF)
- The NCEA EtO Peer Review Charge (PDF) (5 pp, 209 KB, about PDF)
- Memo to SAB Requesting the Document Review (PDF) (2 pp, 29 KB, about PDF)
Related Link(s)
Additional Information
The release of this draft document is solely for the purpose of seeking public comment and for review by the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) via a meeting to be held later in 2006. The time and place of the SAB meeting will be announced in a separate Federal Register notice. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA and does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, any Agency policy or determination.
Citation
U.S. EPA. Evaluation of the Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-06/003.
