By Yervand Kondrahjian | Staff Writer
Ethylene oxide (EtO) has recently been found to be mainly used as a thickening agent or stabilizer in many food products on the market. It is commonly used in foods such as ice cream, breakfast cereals, meat products, fermented milk products, and cheese.
However, the use of ethylene oxide in food production is prohibited due to its mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Chronic exposure to ethylene oxide has been linked to cancer, reproductive effects, and neurotoxicity. The cancers most frequently associated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide are lymphoma and leukemia, while stomach and breast cancers may also be linked to ethylene oxide exposure.
EtO is also found in the production of solvents, antifreeze, textiles, detergents, adhesives, polyurethane foam, and pharmaceuticals. Smaller amounts are present in fumigants, in sterilants for spices and cosmetics, as well as in the hospital sterilization process of surgical equipment.
Interestingly, our bodies naturally produce ethylene when metabolizing ethylene oxide. Nonetheless, ethylene oxide is a hazardous air pollutant, also known as a toxic air pollutant or air toxic. It can cause harm to employees, and the extent of injury may depend on the amount of exposure, duration of exposure, and type of work.
The combustible gas ethylene oxide (C2H4O) has a somewhat pleasant odor. However, those who are exposed to it may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, drowsiness, weakness, extreme fatigue, eye and skin burns, frostbite, reproductive issues, and more.
The main exposure routes for ethylene oxide are inhalation, skin contact, and eye contact. Inhalation is extremely toxic and can cause severe nose and throat discomfort, harm the neurological system, and even render a person unconscious. Skin contact can be corrosive and cause skin irritation, while eye contact can lead to eye irritation, blindness, or permanent eye damage. Finally, ingestion is not a meaningful mode of exposure to the gas.
To detect and qualify ethylene oxide, ethylene chlorohydrin, and ethylene glycol, residual analysis is used in gas chromatography. This approach helps producers demonstrate the safety of ethylene oxide-sterilized items by assessing compliance with approved residual limits. Hemoglobin adduct testing can also be done to evaluate a person’s exposure to the toxin in the last four months.
The NESHAP (The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants/EPA) controls ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilization facilities. It applies to the sterilization process that employs ethylene oxide to sterilize or fumigate materials, including medical equipment and supplies, spices, and other miscellaneous products and items.