ITRC is excited to announce the release of our ITRC Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions Guidance (2023). This Guidance was developed to support the evolution of EtO understanding in recent years.

EtO is used in the manufacturing process to make products (e.g., antifreeze, plastics, adhesives), to sterilize products (e.g., single-use medical devices, wound care dressings), to fumigate and eradicate pests from some foods (e.g., spices), and can be a by-product of anthropogenic activities.

EtO is a flammable, colorless, and reactive gas that is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Inhalation is the primary route of human exposure to EtO. The World Health Organization, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and other health agencies categorize EtO as a human carcinogen.



Information presented in this new ITRC guide includes:

• Characteristics of EtO
• Potential hazards associated with EtO exposure
• Best practices for sampling and analyzing EtO concentrations
• Best practices for community outreach and engaging with stakeholders

The ITRC EtO Team has compiled information from a range of interested parties to develop this interactive guide, including state and federal governments and industry. This resource is intended to inform interested parties about important regulatory developments; technical issues surrounding sampling, measurements, and analysis; and effective communication of EtO-related issues.

ITRC thanks the ETO Team Leaders April Lazzaro, Michigan EGLE, and Keisha Long, South Carolina DHEC, and Program Advisors Kristen Parry and Paige Hobaugh of Tetra Tech, Inc., for their leadership and management of this project. We also thank the entire EtO Team for their contributions to the development of this guidance.



Complementing this eagerly anticipated interactive guide, ITRC's EtO Team will be hosting live internet-based training sessions in 2024. Stay tuned for the training schedule!