Ethylene Oxide Measurements From OSHA Workplace Investigations: Patterns in Exposure by Industry, Occupation, and...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Science
• Industrial Hygiene

Background:

• Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a known occupational carcinogen.
• Current EtO exposure levels in US workplaces are not well-documented.
• Historical OSHA data provides a basis for analyzing EtO exposure trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize EtO exposure trends in US workplaces.
• To analyze exposure patterns across different industries and occupations.
• To assess the proportion of exposures exceeding established occupational exposure limits.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of air sampling data from 1979 to 2020.
• Evaluation of exposure by industry and occupation.
• Examination of temporal changes in exposure levels.
• Quantification of non-compliance with occupational exposure limits.

Main Results:

• Overall decrease in EtO exposures over the study period.
• Inconsistent reduction patterns across industries.
• 46% of samples exceeded the NIOSH REL (0.1 ppm); 18% exceeded the OSHA PEL (1 ppm).
• 70% of industrial sterilization samples exceeded the NIOSH REL.
• Limited exposure data available for 2000-2020, particularly in health services and chemical manufacturing.

Conclusions:

• Contemporary EtO exposures are poorly characterized.
• Industrial sterilization shows higher and least-declined exposures.
• Further research in exposure and risk assessment is crucial for worker protection.