Abstract
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a known carcinogen and mutagen associated with increased incidence of breast and blood cancers. The largest medical sterilization facility in Michigan had been assessed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as imposing an additional cancer risk greater than one in one thousand in nearby neighborhoods. This prompted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (now referred to as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) to conduct an air quality modeling study of the ambient EtO impacts of the sterilization facility, followed by 24 h Summa canister sampling and TO-15 analysis in two phases. Inverse modeling of the measured 24 h EtO concentrations during the second phase yielded estimates of 594 lbs/year for the facility’s total emissions of EtO and 0.247 µg/m3 for the urban background concentration. The inverse-modeled emissions are similar to reported emissions by the facility operator based on indoor air measurements and simple mass balance assumptions, while the inferred background concentration agrees with estimates from other field investigations. The estimated peak 24 h exposure to EtO caused by the sterilization facility in nearby neighborhoods was 1.83 μg/m3 above the background level, corresponding to an additional cancer risk of approximately one in one hundred, if assumed to represent annual mean exposure.
Highlights
Ethylene Oxide (EtO), a flammable, colorless gas first described by the French chemistCharles-Adolphe Wurtz, is produced for commercial use mainly by the catalytic oxidation of ethylene.It is often employed in lieu of steam to sterilize delicate, heat-sensitive medical devices that contain plastics or electronics
In subsequent sections of this paper, we describe the results of an ambient air monitoring campaign conducted by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) around the sterilization facility in the immediate aftermath of the 2018 modeling study and an inverse modeling analysis to estimate fugitive emissions from the sterilization process based on the MDEQ ambient air measurements
The facility’s reported annual emissions of EtO roughly agreed with the fugitive emission rate of 594 lbs/year inferred by MDEQ from the Phase II ambient air measurements through inverse modeling
Summary
Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, is produced for commercial use mainly by the catalytic oxidation of ethylene. It is often employed in lieu of steam to sterilize delicate, heat-sensitive medical devices that contain plastics or electronics. About 0.05% (according to 2004 data) of globally produced EtO is used for sterilization or fumigation [1]. About 73% of EtO is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of other products, the bulk of which are ethylene glycols. Other chemicals produced by EtO include ethoxylates, ethanolamines, glycol ethers, polyethylene glycols, and polyethylene polyols. These products are used as polyester fibers, fiberglass, and plastic packaging film
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