Ethylene Oxide Fact Sheet

Ethylene Oxide Fact Sheet

Ethylene Oxide is an intermediate in the production of several industrial chemicals, one of which is non-ionic surfactants. In 1991, 5 billion lbs. of Ethylene Oxide where produced in the United States. Approximately 700 million lbs. of that production was used in the manufacture of non-ionic surfactants the largest single ingredient in most general-purpose cleaners.

Ethylene Oxide is an established carcinogen (cancer causing agent) and possesses several other physical and health hazards, including acute toxicity, high reactivity, reproductive and mutagenic effects, neurotoxicity and sensitization.

Some surfactants manufactured with Ethylene Oxide have demonstrated the ability to affect the reproduction system of some fish and wildlife.

Ethylene Oxide is a colourless, odourless gas at room temperature and is stable in aqueous solutions and completely miscible in water yet is extremely volatile with an occupational exposure limit of 1 part per million in air.

Trace amounts of Ethylene Oxide and its reactive by products are found in surfactants manufactured with Ethylene Oxide.

Common terms used to describe surfactants manufactured with Ethylene Oxide are: Non-ionic, mild surfactants, Alcohol Ethoxylates, Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates, Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates, Octyl Phenol Ethoxylates. In fact almost all general-purpose cleaners contain surfactants manufactured with Ethylene Oxide.

ECOgent cleaners offer alternatives to using general-purpose cleaners containing non-ionic surfactants manufactured with Ethylene Oxide. ECOgent products are manufactured with Poly Glycoside (sugar-based) surfactants.