EO gas, you know the danger, but if you have no choice but to use it for sterilization, let's prepare this!
Protesters chant in front of the Oak Brook, Illinois, headquarters of Sterigenics in September 2018. Mark Black/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
-Illinois, protests against the use of EO (ETO) (September 18)
Ethylene oxide (EO) gas is one of the Most popular gases this year.
Due to the strengthening of EO gas management standards in the EU, ramen exported from Korea has been subject to a mass recall, and there has been controversy over the toxicity of EO gas labeling by the Rapid Antigen Testing Agency.
EO gas is a colorless gas that is flammable and has the characteristic of giving off a sweet smell.
In addition, it has good sterilization power, such as inhibiting cell proliferation or chemically destroying cells by penetrating into the cell wall of bacteria, but has no metal corrosive properties.
It is widely used for sterilization of reusable medical devices in hospitals, especially those made of materials sensitive to temperature and hydrology.
However, it has been proven to be toxic enough that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO-affiliated organization, has designated EO gas as a class 1 carcinogen.
EPA studies have shown that prolonged exposure increases brain and nervous system damage and increases the risk of blood cancer and breast cancer.
Furthermore, the American Council of Occupational Hygiene Professionals (ACGIH) or the American Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulated the TWA, which is the 8-hour exposure standard for EO gas, as 1 ppm,
For STEL, which is a short-term exposure limit, CGIH stipulates not to exceed 30 times the TWA standard for 3 minutes, and OSHA stipulates not to exceed 15 ppm for 5 minutes.
Korea also stipulates TWA as 1ppm, but STEL is not stipulated separately.
As mentioned earlier, countries such as the US and EU are tightening standards for the use of EO gas.
We also suggest safe EO gas monitoring measures that can be done now so that we can move toward the safe and effective use of EO gas.
First, sterilization using EO gas is usually carried out through the following process.
Pre-conditioning → Air removal → Steam injection → EO gas injection → Sterilization → Exhaust and cleaning → Residual gas ventilation → Done
After sterilization by exposing the products to be sterilized to EO gas,
In order to return to the environment where EO gas was not exposed, EO gas is removed while repeatedly injecting filtered air by creating a vacuum with an inert gas such as nitrogen.
Ventilation is performed to additionally remove residual EO gas.
How long will it take? How can I rest assured knowing that the EO gas aeration phase is over?
Just use the Radionode UA54-EO sensor cartridge!
the basics of the sensor high accuracyFor this purpose, an electrochemical sensor was used to ensure excellent linearity and stability of the measured values.
the measured data lookup in real timecan do
Concentration of EO gasWhen the concentration falls below the set concentration, Notify by phone or textYou can get it.
Also exposed to EO gas Cumulative timeYou don't have to measure it separately because you can check it directly on the dashboard.
With the Radionode UA54-EO, this is great!
1. Real-time EO gas concentration inquiry
2. Call/text notification when the concentration of EO gas reaches the set concentration or less
3. EO gas exposure time automatically saved
Ask a question about EO gas monitoring
1. Since EO gas is heavy, install the Radionode product at the bottom for accurate measurement.
2. It takes a long time and is more expensive than steam sterilization.
Before sterilization, a vacuum should be created and the proper humidity should be maintained.
If so, use the UA54-O2 (oxygen, atmospheric pressure) and UA10H (temperature, humidity) sensor cartridges additionally.
There is also a UA59-CO2 (carbon dioxide) sensor cartridge for regulating the amount of EO gas.
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