Occupational EtO Exposure Limits
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers EtO one of the most potent airborne carcinogens, even at very low concentrations.
In contrast to NIOSH, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a limit of 1 ppm EtO over an 8-hour workday in a 40-hour workweek and 15 ppm for short-term exposure of 15 minutes. However, NIOSH estimates that even long-term exposure at 1 ppm can pose a significant cancer risk over a worker’s lifetime. That means that even low-level exposure can increase the risk of cancers like lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and stomach cancer because EtO is a genotoxic carcinogen.
The conclusion is that any exposure above 0.1 ppm (NIOSH REL) is considered unsafe for extended periods. Additionally, short-term exposures exceeding 5 ppm are hazardous for periods exceeding 15 minutes. People living near sterilization facilities or plants using EtO can be exposed to trace levels of the chemical gas, measured in parts per million.
File your ethylene oxide exposure claim with ELG Law
If you are facing cancer caused by ethylene oxide exposure, it’s important to get legal guidance as soon as possible. You may be eligible to litigate against the employer, the company, or the facility responsible for your exposure to this toxic chemical.
Our team of attorneys at ELG Law will start evaluating your case after you provide just a few documents, such as your employment records (if you worked at a facility using EtO), proof of residence (if you live within four miles of such a facility), and your medical records that link your cancer to EtO exposure.
You may also have the grounds to file a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one to EtO-related cancer. Contact us now to learn more about the available legal options and take the necessary steps towards justice.