Ethylene oxide

According to Decree 280-2024 published on February 28, 2024, in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the amendment to the Appendix 1 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13) will come into force on March 14, 2024. These regulatory changes have not yet been incorporated into the current Substance Data Sheets of the Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace. An update is currently underway and will be available as soon as possible. Consequently, the information contained in the data sheets of substances modified or added in Decree 280-2024 is partially inaccurate or incomplete. Please consult our infoLABO (in French only) for more details. Please contact our client service: [email protected] for further information.

Ethylene oxide

French name in the regulation: Oxyde d'éthylène

CAS : 75-21-8

Exposure Standards in RROHS regulation

Permissible exposure values (PEV)

	ppm	mg/m³	f/cc	Notes
TWAEV	1	1,8	-	-
STEV	-	-	-	-
Ceiling	-	-	-	-

Carcinogenicity	C2	Sensitizer
Simple asphyxiant		Percutaneous
Prohibited use		Prohibited recirculation
Minimum exposure		Explosion hazard
Ototoxic

TWA adjustment for unusual work schedules

III : Weekly adjustment

CNESST – Toxicological Index Service

Consult REPTOX file: Ethylene oxide

Analysis:

Oxyde d'éthylène

Recommended method by the IRSST:

Method: OSHA - 1010

Sampling protocol

Sampling device: Anasorb 747-T8 tube
Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,05 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 12 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: This substance is not analyzed by our laboratories. It might be possible that the analysis be performed by another laboratory. Please contact the IRSST before sampling.

Analytical protocol

Principle: Gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD)

Reference

OSHA, Chemical Information Manual, method 1010, Ethylene Oxyde, 2007.

Oxyde d'éthylène

Method: IRSST - 39-A

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Parameters:
Flow rate: -
TWA sampling volume: -
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Refer to the user's guide accompanying the instrument.

Analytical protocol

Principle: Direct reading instrument-Photoacoustic detection (DRI-PAD)
Remarks: Ethylene oxide is quantified in the field with a direct-reading instrument (DRI). The minimum reported value is 0.43 mg/m³ (0.24 ppm). The reference method corresponds to calibration of the DRI.

Reference

IRSST. "Étalonnage d'un instrument à lecture directe par photoacoustique". Méthode 39-A. Non publiée.