Ethylene oxide is one of 187 pollutants the EPA has classified as an “air toxic,” the suit says, noting the gas is considered “dangerous, toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic” and is readily taken up by the lungs, absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body. Ethylene Oxide Is a Carcinogen You Need to Know About. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keeps an electronic database that lists the cancer-causing potential of different substances. While protection does vary by type of mask, overall studies have estimated surgical and comparable cloth masks are 67% effective and that protection increases when masks are layered with different materials, according to an April study published in the American Chemical Society's Nano. According to the World Health Organization, ethylene oxide is a “potent neurotoxin, a known human carcinogen, a potential reproductive hazard, and an allergic sensitizer” that can cause health problems with acute overexposure and chronic exposure. But airlines take a hard line. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. “The fact that senior Trump administration EPA officials impeded the release of information to communities regarding the health risks of ethylene oxide exposure is about as contradictory to the agency’s mission of protecting the public as you can get,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del. Ethylene oxide (EtO), a known human carcinogen with strong evidence linking exposures to EtO to the development of lymphoma and breast cancer. Studies also showed an increased risk of breast cancer in females. In July 2018, another Sterogenics plant in Willowbrook, Illinois, was forced to shut down until it installed pollution controls to capture the massive ethylene oxide emissions. Ethylene oxide is known to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans, including epi-demiological studies and studies on mechanisms of carcinogenesis. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. 16 August 2019. Claims to the contrary are false. USA TODAY found that Crittenden's statements about chemicals and face masks require more context. EtO is a carcinogen that may cause leukemia and other cancers. At the same time, “ethylene oxide sterilization is an important sterilization method that manufacturers widely use to keep medical devices safe,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Parents face holiday flight nightmare if kids can't keep masks on. [131] Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. And while cancer, reproductive problems, neurotoxicity and more are the clear risks for chronic exposure, a slew of unpleasant symptoms can result from even acute proximity to uncontrolled ethylene oxide emissions, including respiratory issues, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath and cyanosis, which causes skin to turn blue. We are furious that we have been kept in the dark all this time.". According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers must take a series of steps to protect workers from ethylene oxide exposure, including establishing a regulated area wherever airborne concentrations of the molecule are expected to exceed limits. Ethylene oxide is a genotoxic carcinogen after regular consumption. A 2003 study of 7,576 women exposed while at work in commercial sterilization facilities in the US suggests ethylene oxide is associated with breast cancer incidence. If an individual in that scenario did contract COVID-19, he or she would likely have mild disease or be asymptomatic. And Chandra Sefton, who has lived in both Waukegan and Gurnee, was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a form of cancer that is caused by … In Covington, the plant is known as BD, formerly Bard. “It’s more like a conviction based on circumstantial evidence.”. Following a request in January by the EPA to review ethylene oxide information submitted by Centurion, EGLE determined that further investigation was warranted. Reproductive Hazard Ethylene Oxide may be a TERATOGEN in humans since it It's primarily used to produce chemicals like antifreeze, and in small amounts, it's used as a sterilizing agent and pesticide. But residents in two Georgia cities have become aware of a relatively unheard-of carcinogen called ethylene oxide. In support of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed an evaluation of the inhalation carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide (EtO) in December 2016. Early on in the pandemic, Illinois-based medical supplies manufacturer and distributor Medline Industries sought FDA approval to resterilize used masks using ethylene oxide. Ethylene Oxide is carcinogenic to humans by the inhalation route of exposure and can cause lung damage plus evidence indicates that exposure increases the risk of lymphoid, white blood cell cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and … "Ethylene Oxide Is a Carcinogen You Need to Know About" The molecule is also one of the carcinogens present in tobacco smoke and in some medical products and cosmetics. In Smyrna, the plant that releases ethylene oxide is called Sterigenics. It is manufactured from ethylene and used primarily as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of ethylene glycol. ... but is also considered a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. Aug 16, 2019. PTFE itself can cause coughing and flu-like symptoms through polymer fume fever, a rare disease caused by overheating the material — for example, when cooking with nonstick pans — to about 500°F (for reference, the normal range for frying meat is between 400°F to 470°F). Stomach and breast cancers may also be associated with ethylene oxide exposure. “Did you know the con-vid 19 swab test contains a highly carcinogenic sterilizer called ethylene oxide? Ethylene oxide is classified as a class 2 carcinogen by the German MAK commission and as a class A2 carcinogen by the ACGIH. Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen. “THAT MASK IS GIVING YOU LUNG CANCER,” reads the Oct. 15 Facebook post, written by Guy Crittenden. The primary routes of potential human exposure to ethylene oxide are inhalation and ingestion. A Stop Sterigenics Georgia member holds a sign opposing the company’s use of carcinogen ethylene oxide at the Cobb County Board of Commissioners work session in … "We were stunned to hear that we've been living right in the midst of this lethal cloud for 12 years," says Lisa Jonas, who lives just south of Smyrna. Most of us are aware of the potential cancer-causing substances (aka carcinogens) that we should steer clear of. ThePlatform.ie - Ireland's Solutions Resource: Sterilization, Packaging, and Materials: CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS EO … That's because a WebMD story broke the news in early July 2019 that ethylene oxide was being pumped into the air in surrounding neighborhoods by three medical sterilization plants, two operated by Sterigenics in Smyrna (in metro Atlanta) and one by BD Bard in Covington, Georgia. As a source, Crittenden cites his time as former editor of the Canadian trade publication HazMat Management, which in part focuses on issues related to occupational safety and waste management. Evidence in humans indicates that exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of Fact check: What's true and what's false about face masks? Ethylene oxide is a gas commonly used to sterilize medical equipment. COVID updates: CDC releases new guidance on mask wearing. More:Fact check: What's true and what's false about face masks? Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. Ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical intermediate in the production of ethylene glycol, is carcinogenic to humans, concludes EPA’s latest draft hazard assessment. statement from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Sesame seeds were used in the production of flour and recalled products include bread and bagels. What should employers know about ethylene oxide? There are a limited number of online listings where manufacturers claim their masks are sterilized with ethylene oxide, also known as oxirane. Ethylene oxide was first listed in the Fourth Annual Report on Car-cinogens in 1985 as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen Crittenden’s post has been shared across a number of platforms, with Pennsylvania state Rep. Russ Diamond sharing a link to it via The Human News Network, a website that claims to “carry the load vacated by the Fake Media.”. Masks won't lead to lung cancer. If sterilized, face masks or surgical masks would likely be sterilized using ethylene oxide. Ethylene Oxide arcinogenic Dose-Response Assessment CAS Registry Number: 75-21-8 Prepared by Joseph T. Haney, Jr., M.S. Current OSHA PEL: 1 ppm TWA, 5 ppm 15-minute “EXCURSION” 1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL EPA has concluded that ethylene oxide is carcinogenic to humans by the inhalation route of exposure. It is also used as a sterilizing agent for medical equipment and a fumigating agent for spices. And they do protect against coronavirus. There is evidence that it causes leukemia in humans and it has been shown to cause blood, stomach, lung, and other types of cancer in animals. It is false to state that a mask will give its wearer lung cancer. It is a carcinogen (classified as group 1 by IARC) that may cause leukemia, lymphoid and breast cancers. However, according to the FDA, face masks sold to consumers (including cloth masks) are generally not sold as sterile, and surgical masks are not typically provided as sterile. Measurement of the levels of ethylene oxide around the facility, which was owned by Sterigenics and has since closed, was conducted in May 2018 … It is also used in the sterilization of spices and cosmetics. It is important to note, there is overwhelming scientific data supporting the efficacy of masks. The EPA deemed ethylene oxide a carcinogen in 2016, yet plants across the country pollute the air with unsafe levels of the invisible gas. The most toxic cancer causing substance ever produced,” one Facebook said. More:Fact check: CDC report doesn't show mask-wearers are more likely to contract COVID-19, “I might not be able to find a medical paper from, say, (The New England Journal of Medicine) that specifically says ‘this mask gives people cancer,’” Crittenden wrote. Ethylene Oxide is a CARCINOGEN in humans. Lymphoma and leukemia are the cancers most commonly associated with ethylene oxide exposure, but stomach and breast cancers may also be associated with the chemical. Crittenden also claims single-use surgical masks contain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), known by the brand name Teflon. But the EPA decided not warn residents in these areas. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says people who work at industrial facilities that produce the gas, as well as local residents living near them, are at risk for inhaling uncontrolled ethylene oxide emissions. We rate this claim as FALSE, based on our research. The chemical, which is a gas at room temperature, is also used to sterilize medical equipment and fumigate spices. NIOSH REL: <0.1 ppm (<0.18 mg/m 3) TWA, 5 ppm (9 mg/m 3) CEILING, 10-minutes/day; NIOSH considers ethylene oxide to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990]. A July study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found wearing a mask reduced the amount of virus to which one is exposed. But because of its ability to damage DNA, it's also a known carcinogen. The FDA encourages medical device makers to follow consensus standards to ensure residual levels of ethylene oxide are within safe limits. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Fact check: CDC report doesn't show mask-wearers are more likely to contract COVID-19, Anti-vaxxers spread fear about future coronavirus vaccine, PA State Rep. Russ Diamond, Oct. 26 Facebook Post, Fact check: Experts say face masks don't cause oxygen deprivation, neurological damage, Ethylene Oxide Sterilization for Medical Devices, “Submission and Review of Sterility Information in Premarket Notification (510(k)) Submissions for Devices Labeled as Sterile, After meeting with Trump, Medline wants FDA approval to sterilize N95 masks with ethylene oxide. U.S. EPA Classifies Ethylene Oxide As a Carcinogen In December 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified ethylene oxide gas as a human carcinogen. PTFE is used in some masks, although polypropylene is the material most commonly used to make medical face masks and N95-style respirator masks. A greater viral dose appeared indicative of more aggressive disease. Fifteen years later, the EPA changed EtO’s status to a … Full Fact, which fact-checked a claim similar to Crittenden’s, concluded there is “no evidence that anyone would suffer from (polymer fume fever) as a result of the normal wearing of a mask made with Teflon unless they were inhaling fumes from the burning of the mask.”. Sabine S. Lange, Ph.D., DABT Crittenden correctly states some masks include PTFE, but misleads readers about potential health risks associated with this material, especially when it comes to chemicals remaining in the finished product. As with other medical devices sterilized using ethylene oxide, FDA guidance helps ensure any remaining levels are within safe limits. Crucially, however, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends against using ethylene oxide for resterilizing single-use filtering face piece respirators — masks like N95s — due to risks associated with the chemical. The EPA deemed ethylene oxide a carcinogen in 2016, yet plants across the country pollute the air with unsafe levels of the invisible gas. And the EPA's latest National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), which was released in 2018, identified five areas in Region 4 (the Southeast) where the risks of cancer were higher due to exposure to ethylene oxide. EPA determined ethylene oxide causes cancer, are at risk for inhaling uncontrolled ethylene oxide emissions. The fact-check rating has been changed to "false.". The American Cancer Society does not report any cancer risk tied directly to PTFE, but did note perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical used to make Teflon prior to 2015, has been classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” However, the American Cancer Society also stated PFOA burns off in the process of making Teflon and is not present in significant amounts in the final products. According to a statement from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), officials are working with Sterigenics in Smyrna and BD Bard in Covington, to implement voluntary improvements to control the release of ethylene oxide gas. NIOSH recommends that ethylene oxide (EtO) be regarded in the workplace as a By: Michelle Konstantinovsky Ethylene oxide may sometimes be the only method of effectively sterilizing equipment that would otherwise be damaged in other sterilization processes, the FDA notes. Ethylene oxide is a flammable, colorless gas with a sweet odor at room temperature. | According to the World Health Organization, ethylene oxide is a “potent neurotoxin, a known human carcinogen, a potential reproductive hazard, and an … Ethylene oxide levels near a medical sterilizing facility were at concentrations above acceptable levels. Studies of workers show that their exposures to ethylene oxide are associated with an increased risk of cancers of the white blood cells (the infection-fighting cells of the immune system). Stomach and breast cancers may also be associated with ethylene oxide exposure. But airlines take a hard line. WebMD reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a 10-year study on how ethylene oxide affects human health — in 2007. According to the FDA, the science surrounding the use of these chemicals is still developing. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Michelle Konstantinovsky Comprehensive health effects studies revealed a direct link to cancers and long-term exposure to ethylene oxide emissions. Lymphoma and leukemia are the cancers most frequently reported to be associated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide. And it is being released in mass quantities at plants like Sterigenics and BD Bard. It's very scary. The gas has been determined to be a human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA classified ethylene oxide as a human carcinogen in December 2016. Citing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington Department of Labor & Industries cautions health care employers and others who sterilize respirators for reuse that ethylene oxide is a carcinogen that “has been linked to neurologic dysfunction and may cause other harmful effects” to the eyes, […] Most of us are aware of the potential cancer-causing substances (aka carcinogens) that we should steer clear of. While it is listed by federal agencies as a carcinogen with long-term exposure, experts say the gas is used only in small amounts to sterilize COVID testing kits and would not present cancer hazard. OSHA. About 50% of all sterile medical devices in the U.S. are sterilized with ethylene oxide, according to the FDA. They refused to take a public health crisis seriously and put Illinoisans at risk when they knew the impact ethylene oxide’s carcinogenic emissions could … Video:COVID updates: CDC releases new guidance on mask wearing. The EPA report came as a shock to many Atlanta residents who'd never been informed of the local environmental threat, let alone even heard of the carcinogen in question. He also asserted his claims are backed up by “OSHA mask experts” Tammy Clark and Kristen Meghan, two women with backgrounds in environmental health and safety who appeared on anti-vaccine personality Del Bigtree’s webcast “The HighWire.” The two women spoke out against face masks, though notably did not address the supposed cancer-causing chemicals Crittenden’s post mentions. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CARCINOGENIC … Thank you for supporting our journalism. Two other federal agencies are against it, citing cancer risks for health care workers, Enforcement Guidance on Decontamination of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, Decontamination of 3M Filtering Facepiece Respirators, such as N95 Respirators, in the United States - Considerations, Materials for Covid-19 PPE and Medical Equipment, Household Materials Selection for Homemade Cloth Face Coverings and Their Filtration Efficiency Enhancement with Triboelectric Charging, Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Teflon, and Related Chemicals, Teflon in masks does not pose a health risk, unless you get it extremely hot, Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Masks Do More Than Protect Others During COVID-19: Reducing the Inoculum of SARS-CoV-2 to Protect the Wearer, Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Aerosol Filtration Efficiency of Common Fabrics Used in Respiratory Cloth Masks, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Occupational Safety and Health Administration: “, American Chemical Society Public Health Emergency Collection: “, Journal of General Internal Medicine, July 31, ". EtO is also linked to spontaneous abortion, genetic damage, nerve damage, peripheral paralysis, muscle weakness, as well as impaired thinking and memory. Which cancers are associated with exposure to ethylene oxide? The EPA first classified ethylene oxide (EtO) as a possible human carcinogen in 1985. Lymphoma and leukemia are the cancers most commonly linked to occupational exposure to ethylene oxide, although stomach and breast cancers may also be associated, according to the National Cancer Institute. 3M, which manufactures masks and personal protective equipment, also warns against using ethylene oxide to decontaminate masks because wearers could breathe in residual amounts. One of the chemicals Crittenden mentions is ethylene oxide, a “known carcinogen” he claims is used to sterilize surgical masks. And cosmetics an individual in that scenario did contract COVID-19, he she... Electronic newspaper replica here began a 10-year study on how ethylene oxide emissions — in.... 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