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Ethylene oxide

CAS 75-21-8

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Also known as: ethylene oxide, oxirane, epoxyethane

What it is + why it's regulated

Ethylene oxide is a gas used to sterilize medical equipment and spices, and it’s also a building block for making antifreeze and other chemicals. You might encounter it in hospitals or industrial settings, but it’s not something you’d find in household products. California’s Proposition 65 lists ethylene oxide because it can cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm. The state’s experts have determined that exposure to this chemical, even at low levels, may pose serious health risks over time. For example, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it’s known to cause cancer in humans. That’s why California requires businesses to warn people if they’re exposed to ethylene oxide above certain limits. This summary draws on public regulatory data; the linked source is authoritative. Source: California OEHHA Proposition 65 List (https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list).

Authoritative source

Issuing body: California Proposition 65
Primary register: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list

Always verify each fact at the primary register before acting on it.

What this is NOT

ProductGuru is an INDEX of public regulatory data, not a primary source. This page is not medical, occupational-health, or legal advice. Every claim above is drawn from the issuing-agency register linked. Inclusion in our index is not endorsement, condemnation, or hazard assessment.

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