ethylene oxide

ethylene /eth·y·lene/ (eth´ĭ-lēn) a colorless flammable gas, CH2dbondCH2, with a slightly sweet odor and taste; formerly used as an inhalation anesthetic.

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ethylene dibromide  a fumigant and gasoline additive; it is a skin and mucous membrane irritant and is carcinogenic.

ethylene dichloride  a solvent, gasoline additive, and intermediate; it is irritating and toxic, and can be carcinogenic.

ethylene glycol  a solvent used as an antifreeze; ingestion can cause central nervous system depression, vomiting, hypotension, coma, convulsions, and death.

ethylene oxide  a gas used in manufacturing organic compounds and as a fumigant, fungicide, and sterilizing agent; it is highly irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes and is carcinogenic.

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ethylene oxide (CH₂CH₂O),

a highly flammable gas used to sterilize surgical instruments and other supplies; the simplest epoxide.

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ethylene [eth´ĭ-lēn]

a colorless, highly flammable gas with a slightly sweet taste and odor, used as an inhalation anesthetic to induce general anesthesia.

ethylene glycol a solvent with a sweet, acrid taste, used as an antifreeze. Acute poisoning by ingestion can result in central nervous system depression, vomiting, hypotension, coma, convulsions, renal damage, and death. While damage is thought to be due to the formed oxalic acid, ethanol is a good treatment because it competitively inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase. The unaltered ethylene glycol is then excreted in the urine.

ethylene oxide a gaseous, flammable alkylating agent with a broad spectrum of activity, capable of killing both spores and viruses; it must be mixed with CO₂ or fluorocarbons because it is explosive above 3 per cent. It is used in hospitals, surgery, dentistry, and the pharmaceutical and other industries for disinfecting and sterilizing instruments and equipment that would be destroyed by heat or would be adversely affected by immersion in water or other media. Its optimal germicidal effect occurs after a 3-hour exposure at 30°C.ƒ

Ethylene oxide is toxic because it alkylates tissue constituents; it is carcinogenic and may produce adverse reproductive effects. Inhalation may cause nausea, vomiting, and neurological disorders, and severe exposure may be fatal. Before items exposed to ethylene oxide can be used they must be aired for 5 days at room temperature or for 8 hours at 120° C to remove any trace of the gas. This is also true for articles of clothing, such as gloves and shoes, that have been exposed, because chemical burns can occur when the contaminated clothing comes in contact with the skin.

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ethylene

a colorless, highly flammable gas with a slightly sweet taste and odor, used as an inhalation anesthetic to induce general anesthesia.

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ethylene dibromide (EDB)

grain fumigant. Treated seed seriously reduces egg production when fed to hens in very small amounts.

ethylene dichloride

industrial fumigant; causes respiratory and ophthalmic irritation, narcosis, disturbance of equilibrium.

ethylene glycol

antifreeze; palatable enough for animals to drink in quantity. Causes ataxia, depression, coma, polydipsia, vomiting and convulsions due to formation of oxalate crystals in brain blood vessels and renal tubules.

ethylene oxide

a fumigant used for foodstuffs, surgical equipment and as an agricultural fungicide. It is a gaseous, flammable alkylating agent with a broad spectrum of activity, being sporicidal and viricidal. It is used (mixed with CO₂ or fluorocarbons because it is explosive above 3%) for disinfecting and sterilizing equipment and instruments that are used in the hospital, surgery, dentistry, and the pharmaceutical and other industries, and that are thermolabile or will be adversely affected by immersion in water or other media. Its optimal germicidal effect occurs after a 3-hour exposure at 86°F (30°C). Its vapor is irritating to eyes and respiratory mucosa and can cause serious pulmonary edema. Called also oxirane.

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ethylene oxide

Occupational medicine A gas used to sterilize medical supplies and other materials