What is ethylene oxide and is it safe?
Ethylene oxide (C₂H₄O) is a flammable gas with a somewhat sweet odor. Exposure to ethylene oxide may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulty, drowsiness, weakness, exhaustion, eye and skin burns, frostbite, and reproductive effects. Workers may be harmed from exposure to ethylene oxide.
What things contain ethylene oxide?
Ethylene oxide is used mainly as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of textiles, detergents, polyurethane foam, antifreeze, solvents, medicinals, adhesives, and other products.
Where is ethylene oxide produced?
Made from petroleum or natural gas, ethylene oxide is a key material in the manufacture of plastics, glycols, detergents, solvents, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals.
What is ethylene oxide effects on humans?
Chronic (long-term) exposure to ethylene oxide in humans can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and damage to the brain and nervous system. There also is some evidence linking ethylene oxide exposure to reproductive effects.
What is ethylene glycol used for?
DESCRIPTION: Ethylene glycol is a useful industrial compound found in many consumer products. Examples include antifreeze, hydraulic brake fluids, some stamp pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, plastics, films, and cosmetics. It can also be a pharmaceutical vehicle.
Why is ethylene oxide used?
What is ethylene oxide used for? Ethylene oxide is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of various products including antifreeze, detergents, fibres and bottles. It is also used to sterilise medical equipment. In the past, ethylene oxide was also used as an insecticide.
What is ethylene oxide in skin care?
Ethylene oxide may end up in cosmetic products due to the process of ethoxylation. It is common in fragrances, shampoos, and other cosmetic items (source). The EWG marks it “F” which stands for the “highest concern” about its potentially significant hazards to health or the environment.
How is ethylene oxide synthesized?
The synthesis of ethylene oxide by direct oxidation with air or oxygen over a supported silver catalyst is a well established process for more than sixty years. Therefore the reaction can be used to investigate the potential of a microstructured reactor in comparison to an industrial process.
What can ethylene oxide cause?
Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high concentrations of ethylene oxide can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, respiratory irritation (e.g., coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing) and, in some cases, vomiting and other types of gastrointestinal distress.
Why is ethylene oxide used for sterilization?
Ethylene oxide (EO) is the most commonly used agent in chemical sterilization. Because it is a gas, it rapidly penetrates packaging and items to be sterilized at temperatures tolerated by almost all materials.
What is ethylene oxide used for?
The major use of ethylene oxide is as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of ethylene glycol. Ethylene oxide is also used as a sterilizing agent for medical equipment and a fumigating agent for spices.
What is in ethylene glycol?
Ethylene glycol is a clear, viscous liquid primarily used in industrial manufacturing applications, and also is an ingredient in products like automotive antifreeze and coolant. Ethylene glycol is produced by reacting the chemical compound ethylene oxide with water.
What is the chemical formula for ethylene oxide?
Ehylene oxide Formula. Ethylene oxide, also known as oxirano or oxacyclopropane, is a chemical compound of the epoxides family that is largely used in chemical industry as precursor and raw material. Formula and structure: The ethylene oxide chemical formula is C2H4O and its molar mass is 44.05 g mol-1.
At room temperature, ethylene oxide is a flammable colorless gas with a sweet odor. It is used primarily to produce other chemicals, including antifreeze. In smaller amounts, ethylene oxide is used as a pesticide and a sterilizing agent.
What are the properties of ethylene oxide?
Chemical properties: Ethylene oxide is an odorless gas at room temperature and normal pressure, but is a liquid with an ether-like odor at 10.4 degrees C at higher pressure. It is completely miscible with water, alcohol, acetone, benzene, ether, and most organic solvents.
Is ethylene gas harmful?
Unlike most plant hormone compounds, ethylene is a gaseous hormone. Ethylene is not harmful or toxic to humans; however, at extremely high concentrations it is combustible. Its impact on the post harvest industry is tremendous because it is active at very low concentrations and affects plants in many different ways.