Ethylene oxide
CASRN 75-21-8
- Toxicological Review (PDF) (228 pp, 1.85 M)
- IRIS Executive Summary (PDF) (9 pp, 207 K)
- Background, History, and Other Supporting Documents (including Appendices)
Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (2016 Interagency Science Discussion Draft)
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Overview
Note: No major science comments were received on the Interagency Science Discussion Draft.
Citation
U.S. EPA. Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (2016 Interagency Science Discussion Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-16/284a-b, 2016.
Background
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a gas at room temperature. It is manufactured from ethylene and is a chemical intermediate in the manufacturing of various chemicals. It is also used as a sterilizing agent for medical and dental equipment and as a fumigating agent for spices and certain other items. The highest levels of human exposure are in occupations involving contact with the gas in plants that manufacture or use EtO and in hospitals that sterilize medical equipment. EtO can also be inhaled by residents living near facilities that produce or use EtO or near sterilizing/fumigating facilities.
The DNA-damaging properties of EtO have been studied since the 1940s. EtO is known to be mutagenic in a large number of living organisms, ranging from bacteriophage to mammals, and it also induces chromosome damage. It is carcinogenic in mice and rats, inducing tumors of the lymphohematopoietic system, brain, lung, connective tissue, uterus, and mammary gland. In humans employed in EtO-manufacturing facilities and in sterilizing facilities, there is strong evidence of an increased risk of cancer of the lymphohematopoietic system and of breast cancer in females.
History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Jun 1985 | EPA published the Health Assessment Document for Ethylene Oxide (EPA/600/8-84/009F). |
| Sep 2006 | EPA released a draft reassessment for a 30-day public comment period. [Federal Register Notice September 22, 2006] |
| Jan 2007 | Peer review meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) (public meeting). |
| Dec 2007 | EPA's SAB issued a final report on the review of the draft assessment of EtO. |
| Jul 2011 | EPA initiated Final Agency and an Interagency Science Discussion of a revised draft assessment of EtO. |
| Jun 2012 | EPA conducted further Agency review of the revised draft assessment of EtO. |
| Jul 2013 | EPA revised the draft assessment and released for additional public review and comment. The interagency science discussion draft of the assessment and related comments were also made available. [Federal Register Notice Jul 23, 2013] |
| Dec 2013 | EPA hosted an IRIS public science meeting to discuss the draft assessment released for public comment. |
| Aug 2014 | EPA submitted the draft assessment (revised in response to public comments) to the SAB for external peer review. [Federal Register Notice Aug 11, 2014] |
| Nov 2014 | EPA's SAB hosted a panel meeting for the SAB Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee (CAAC), augmented for the review of the draft IRIS assessment of EtO. |
| Aug 2015 | EPA's SAB issued a final report on its review of the draft assessment of EtO. |
| Oct 2016 | EPA submitted a revised draft for final Agency Review and Interagency Science Discussion. |
| Dec 2016 | EPA posted the final Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide to the IRIS database. |
Status
Following review by SAB and consideration of public comments received, the Agency revised the draft assessment and sent it back to Final Agency review and Interagency Science Discussion (step 6 of the IRIS process). Once this was done, the carcinogenicity assessment was finalized (step 7 of the IRIS process) and placed in the IRIS database.
Download(s)
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 Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (Interagency Science Discussion Draft) (PDF) (230 pp, 2 MB, about PDF)
- Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide Appendices (Interagency Science Discussion Draft) (PDF) (341 pp, 3 MB, about PDF)
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Related Link(s)
- Evaluation of the Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (2006 External Review Draft)
- Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (Revised July 2013 External Review Draft) (Public Comment Draft)
- Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (2011 Interagency Science Discussion Draft)
- Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (Revised August 2014 External Review Draft) (SAB Review Draft)
- Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (Final Report)