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In the period between 1982 to 1984 multiple studies on lab rats concluded that inhalation concentrations of ethylene oxide could be correlated to cancer development. An analysis of the results found that increased exposure showed higher incidences of tumor development in both male and female lab rats. According to the EPA EtO is carcinogenic and, “Scientific evidence in humans indicates that exposure to EtO for many years increases the risk of cancers of the white blood cells, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia. Studies also show that long-term exposure to EtO increases the risk of breast cancer in women.” 

Ethylene oxide mainly becomes an environmental and health hazard in any community when it is released as a gas into the surrounding air. Ethylene oxide exposure includes inhalation and ingestion. 

The map above constructed by air alliance Houston (Generated April 6, 2020) shows areas with EtO Cancer risk greater than 100/1 million as stars, top 25 EtO emitting facilities from 2008-2018 as red dots and other EtO facilities as black dots. Ethylene oxide facilities span the country mainly located on the east coast and gulf coast. 

In a close up we can see Huntsman Petrochemical highlighted within the elevated EtO cancer risk.

Ethylene Oxide had been used as a fumigation insecticide to sterilize food, medical facilities and equipment. Currently ethylene oxide continues to be used and produced in the manufacturing processes of many commercial products, sterilizations, and insecticides. One of its major uses is as an intermediate in the production of ethylene glycol and other industrial chemicals. As noted by the CDC in the Toxicological review of ethylene glycol they note “in 1937, the direct oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide followed by hydrolysis to ethylene glycol”. Ethylene glycol is used in a variety of consumer products including paint, plastics, brake fluids, inks, cosmetics, etc. Ethylene glycol is additionally used to manufacture polyethylene terephthalate, used to produce disposable plastic bottles. The trickle down use of ethylene oxide in a series of additional manufacturing processes make it a valuable and versatile chemical in the production of a variety of consumer goods. 

Ethylene oxide, as defined and according to the EPA, “Ethylene oxide is a flammable, colorless gas used to make other chemicals that are used in making a range of products, including antifreeze, textiles, plastics, detergents and adhesives. Ethylene oxide also is used to sterilize equipment and plastic devices that cannot be sterilized by steam, such as medical equipment.”