Overview

Ethylene oxide is a flammable gas with a somewhat sweet odor that has been used in many industries for over a century, including as an ingredient of ethylene glycol used in antifreeze and polyester. It is also used in the sterilization of personal protective equipment and other medical equipment, up to 20 billion medical devices each year. In fact, approximately 50 percent of medical supplies in the United States are sterilized by ethylene oxide annually, making it necessary for the protection of frontline health care workers.

Ethylene oxide has been studied and monitored by agencies and regulators globally since the 1920s and has regularly been found non-toxic or not harmful to humans. Despite these consistent findings, concerns arose in the mid-2000s regarding a possible link between ethylene oxide and damage to the respiratory and nervous systems including cancer, resulting in hundreds of class action lawsuits and the closure of some businesses that utilize ethylene oxide in their products.

The Center’s Focus

The Center for Truth in Science seeks to determine if there is conclusive, consistent scientific evidence that demonstrates a link between exposure to ethylene oxide and the development of cancer or other chronic illnesses.

The Center also seeks to examine the potential economic impact of government-imposed limits or bans on the use of ethylene oxide.