Where to Learn More About Ethylene Oxide

EPA, state and local agencies, and the companies that use ethylene oxide (EtO) are responsible for reducing the amount of EtO people are exposed to at work and in their communities in two primary ways: by providing clear directions on pesticide labels, including measures that protect workers' health; and by limiting the amount of EtO that reaches the outdoor air.

If you have concerns about EtO exposure where you live, you should contact your local Department of Health, your state environmental authority, or the EPA. You also can learn more about this pollutant in your community, and how you can participate in regulatory processes.

Take Care of Your Health

For adults

Taking care of your health is always important. If you think you are being exposed to ethylene oxide in the outdoor air or through pesticide use, be sure you keep up with routine health screenings and doctor’s visits. If you have health concerns that you believe are related to EtO exposure, start by contacting a healthcare provider. In addition, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) can help answer general questions about associations between EtO exposure and health conditions based on health study findings. You can reach ATSDR at: [email protected].

EtO and Your Child’s Health

If you are concerned about EtO and your child’s health, contacting your health care provider is a good place to start. If your provider is not familiar with EtO, they can work with you to contact the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) that serves your area. EPA and the ATSDR help fund the PEHSUs, which are a source of medical information and advice on environmental conditions that influence reproductive and children’s health. If you don’t have a doctor, you can contact the PEHSU for your area directly.

Want more details about EtO and health?

In addition to the information in this fact sheet, these federal resources may be helpful:

Learn more about EtO in your community

EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)

EPA's TRI provides information on the quantities of toxic chemicals that are released annually to air, water and land, or that otherwise are managed as waste by facilities throughout the United States. These facilities are mostly those involved in metal mining, electric power generation, chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste treatment, and include federal facilities. Ethylene oxide is a TRI-listed chemical, and facilities are required to report if they exceed the threshold amounts for activities such as manufacturing or processing.

Note: Not all industry sectors are covered by the TRI Program, and not all facilities in covered sectors are required to report. For a summary of TRI information on EtO, see the 2019 TRI EtO Fact Sheet. You also can use TRI Search Plus to find facilities that report ethylene oxide emissions near you. 

EPA’s National Emissions Inventory (NEI)

EPA's NEI provides a detailed estimate of emissions of air pollutants, including hazardous air pollutants (EtO is a hazardous air pollutant). This inventory is released every three years, based primarily on data provided by state, local and tribal governments. Because state, local and tribal governments are not required to report hazardous air pollutants to the NEI, this inventory does not include every chemical or facility in the country.

Find EtO information from the NEI by using the “facility mapping” link at the top of the page.  Select your state, then select ethylene oxide from the pollutant list (in the pollutant list under “HAP”). Click submit to generate the map. Once you see the map, you can click on the red dots map to find the amount of EtO emissions were reported from individual facilities, or you can use the table below the map to see that information.  You also can search for total EtO emissions by industrial category using the data query link on the page.

State or local air agencies may be a source of information

Many facilities are required to have permits to emit pollution into the air. These permits limit the amount of pollutants that can be emitted. State and local agencies generally have the responsibility for permitting, and some post permits to their website. Not sure of the state agency in your area that issues such permits? Your state environmental agency is a good place to start.

Some states have their own air regulations for EtO. Your individual state environmental agency or health department may also have resources available outlining local regulations and efforts they are taking to reduce emissions and inform communities.

Stay up to date on EPA’s EtO work 

Air regulations

EPA has updated regulations that limit industrial EtO emissions to the air, and is providing state air agencies assistance as they work to learn more about EtO emissions from facilities in their jurisdictions and to identify opportunities for early reduction. Read updates on this work.

Re-evaluating the pesticidal uses of EtO

As it does for all pesticides, EPA is required re-evaluate the pesticidal uses of EtO every 15 years to ensure the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Read documents related to this review.

Learn how to participate in the federal rulemaking process

When EPA publishes a proposed rule, it includes a comment period. During that time, any person can provide comments to the Agency about any aspect of the proposed regulation. For some rules, EPA holds a public hearing where you can provide comments in person. The Agency always accepts comments in writing. All comments – whether in person or written – get the same level of consideration.

Learn what EPA is studying about EtO

Monitoring for background EtO

EPA and a number of states are using existing, longstanding monitoring sites to learn how much EtO is present in the air that cannot be attributed to a particular facility based on current data and methods. Read a fact sheet that provides a summary of this work:  EPA's Work to Understand Background Levels of Ethylene Oxide (pdf) (340.3 KB)

Conducting research

EPA also is conducting research to learn more about how EtO moves through the environment and to develop methods for more precisely measuring it in the outdoor air. Read updates on that work.

Learn about ongoing work and requirements at other federal agencies

Centers for Disease Control

  • The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides scientific and health effects information on EtO. One resource is ATSDR’s Toxicological Profile for Ethylene Oxide and accompanying information sheet ToxFAQsTM.
  • The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a research agency focused on assuring safe and healthy working conditions. Access NIOSH resources on EtO.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Before medical devices labeled “sterile” go onto the market, FDA reviews the sterilization information provided in regulatory submissions. FDA also inspects facilities that sterilize medical devices to make sure the sterilization processes have been validated. The sterilization processes are commonly validated using FDA-recognized consensus standards. FDA is conducting innovation challenges to identify new sterilization methods and technologies and to reduce ethylene oxide emissions. Learn more on the innovative challenges.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA sets workplace standards for EtO exposure and provides other resources for employers. Read a fact sheet from OSHA.

Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide

Contact Us About Ethylene Oxide
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on November 12, 2024