Ethylene oxide

Occupational exposure to ethylene oxide may cause cancer. For carcinogenic substances with no safe threshold, The Health Council derives a risk estimate as a basis for an occupational exposure limit, which is to be set by the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. In recent years, international reports have been published in which the risk of cancer due to occupational exposure to ethylene oxide has been calculated. The Health Council has considered these reports and proposes for ethylene oxide to use the risk calculation made by the German Ausschuss für Gefahrstoffe (AGS).