detecting-ethylene-oxide-thumbnail

Ethylene oxidedetcting-ethylene-oxide

Formula: C2H4O | CAS: 75-21-8

Detecting ethylene oxide: The ability of ethylene oxide to damage DNA makes it an effective sterilising agent but also accounts for its cancer-causing activity.

Detecting ethylene oxide when using it within the medical industry

The main disadvantages associated with ethylene oxide (ETO) are the lengthy cycle time, the cost, and its potential hazards to patients and staff; the main advantage is that it can sterilise heat- or moisture-sensitive medical equipment without deleterious effects on the material used in medical devices.

Most occupational exposures to EtO are covered by the OSHA standard. The standard does not apply, however, when employers can demonstrate that the processing, use, or handling of products containing EtO will not release airborne concentrations of EtO at or above the standard’s action level of 0.5 ppm
– OSHA Fact Sheet

Detecting ethylene oxide early to limit the routes of exposure

The primary routes of human exposure to ethylene oxide are inhalation and ingestion, which may occur through occupational, consumer, or environmental exposure. Because ethylene oxide is highly explosive and reactive, the equipment used for its processing generally consists of tightly closed and highly automated systems, which decreases the risk of occupational exposure.

Select another gas

Gas Factsheet

Everything you need to know about detecting ethylene oxide

Our Gas Factsheets which is available to download below provides you with key information on the exposure limits and the locations of where potentially harmful gases can occur. We also share information on gas detection monitoring techniques and equipment that can help you manage gas detection in the workplace, for worker and site safety.

detecting-ehtylene-oxide-instrument-gas-factsheet

Download Gas Factsheet

Detecting Ethylene oxide

Formula: C2H4O | CAS: 75-21-8

Synonyms: oxirane, dimethylene oxide, oxane, 1,2-epoxy ethane, C2H4O, ETO

Ethylene oxide is the starting point for a wide variety of chemicals, most importantly ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycols.

Specification Value/Information
Formula C2H4O
CAS no. 75-21-8
Gas Response Factor, 11.7 eV 2.00
Gas Response Factor, 10.6 eV 9.00
Gas Response Factor, 10.0 eV ZR
ppm per mg/m⁻³, (20 °C, 1 bar) 0.546
Molecular Weight, g/mole 44.1
Melting point, °C -113
Boiling point, °C 11
Flash point, °C -57
Upper Explosive Limit, % 100
Lower Explosive Limit, % 2.6
Specification Value/Information
Density, g.cm⁻³ 0.82
Ionisation Energy, eV 10.56
EH40 TWA, ppm 1
EH40 TWA, mg.m⁻³ 1.8
NIOSH TWA REL, ppm 0.1
NIOSH TWA REL, mg.m⁻³ 0.18
NIOSH ceiling, ppm 5
NIOSH ceiling, mg.m⁻³ 9
NIOSH IDLH, ppm 800
OSHA TWA PEL, ppm 1
OSHA TWA PEL, mg.m⁻³ 5

Related Products

Download your Gas Factsheet

Click here to obtain your Gas Factsheet on Ethylene oxide C2H40.

Which gas are you looking to detect?

or search in our gas table

Gas Search