Related topics

Ethylene Oxide (C2H4O) is a colorless flammable gas with a faintly sweet odor. It is a raw material used in diverse applications and is a very hazardous substance, at room temperature it is a flammable, carcinogenic, mutagenic, irritating and anaesthetic gas. It is critical in the production of many consumer products such as detergents, thickeners, solvents and plastics. It is used as a disinfectant in hospitals to replace steam in sterilization of heat-sensitive tools and equipment.

Typical applications where dangerous levels of Ethylene Oxide might occur and benefit from a Ethylene Oxide gas detector are:

• Chemical plants
• Hospitals
• Medical goods manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical production
• Cosmetic production
• Detergent production
• Ethylene Glycol production

Ethylene Oxide is toxic by inhalation and it's toxicity levels are lower than the threshold to smell the gas. It also has irritating, sensitizing and narcotic effects.

Exposure Limits (Source: OSHA)

Following are Ethylene Oxide exposure limits that industries should be aware of when researching Ethylene Oxide gas detectors and gas detection systems.

• Agency	Exposure Limits
  OSHA PEL (General Industry)	1 ppm TWA, 5 ppm (15 min.) Excursion Level; 0.5 ppm Action Level
  OSHA PEL (Construction Industry)	1 ppm TWA, 5 ppm (15 min.) Excursion Level; 0.5 ppm Action Level
  OSHA PEL (Maritime)	3 ppm TWA1 ppm TWA, 5 ppm (15 min.) Excursion Level; 0.5 ppm Action Level
  ACGIH TLV	1 ppm TWA
  NIOSH REL	<0.1 ppm TWA, 5 ppm (10 min.) ceililng
  NIOSH IDLH	800 ppm
  Intl Agency for Research on Cancer	Group 1 carcinogenic

  Definitions:

  • TWA = Time Weighted Average exposure concentration for a normal 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek
  • STEL = Short Term Exposure Limit (Usually a 15-minute time-weighted average exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday
  • NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
    • REL = Recommended Exposure Limit
    • IDLH = Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentration
  • OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
    • PEL = Permissible Exposure Limit
  • ACGIH (American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists)
    • TLV = Threshold Limit Value

Sierra Monitor has a 4-20 mA Ethylene Oxide gas detector.

• Model 5100-27 gas detector utilizes electrochemical technology to detect levels of Nitric Oxide in the range 0 to 20 ppm.
• Model 4101-27 gas detector utilizes electrochemical technology to detect levels of Ethylene Oxide in the range 0 to 20 ppm.