---
title: "Ethylene oxide (75-21-8): exposure limits and sampling"
url: https://analyt-mtc.com/tools/hazard-search/ethylene-oxide-75-21-8/
lang: en
alternates:
  en: https://analyt-mtc.com/tools/hazard-search/ethylene-oxide-75-21-8/
  de: https://analyt-mtc.com/de/tools/gefahrstoffsuche/ethylene-oxide-75-21-8/
---

Hazard search

# Ethylene oxide

CAS number

75-21-8

Also known as

1,2-Epoxyethane · Ethylene oxide (by portable GC) · Ethylene oxide (Qazi-Ketcham) · Oxirane

## UK workplace exposure limits

| Limit | Value | Applies to |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8-hour TWA | 1 ppm |  |
| 8-hour TWA | 1.8 mg/m³ |  |

### Notations

-   Carc: carcinogen
-   Sk: can be absorbed through the skin

## Sampling methods

| Method | Sampling | Medium | Analysis | Part numbers |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **MDHS 88** | Passive |  | GC-FID | [575-005](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-ethylene-oxide-passive-samplers/#part-575-005) |
| **MDHS 96** / VOCs by solvent desorption and GC / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/pdfs/mdhs96.pdf) | Active (pump) | Charcoal tube (100/50mg) | GC-FID | [226-01](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-anasorb-sorbent-tubes/) |
| **MDHS 104** / VOCs by thermal desorption and GC / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/pdfs/mdhs104.pdf) | Active (pump) | Chromosorb 106 tube (300mg) |  | [226-358](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-chromosorb-sorbent-tubes/#part-226-358) |
| **NIOSH 1614** / Ethylene oxide by GC-ECD / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-154/pdfs/1614.pdf) | Active (pump) | Coated Anasorb 747 tube (100/50mg) | GC-ECD | [226-178](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-anasorb-sorbent-tubes/#part-226-178) |
| **NIOSH 3702** / Ethylene oxide by portable GC -PID / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-154/pdfs/3702.pdf) | Active (pump) | Sample bag | P GC-PID | [231-01](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-tedlar-sample-bags/#part-231-01) |
| **OSHA 1010** / Ethylene oxide by GC-ECD / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/methods/osha-1010.pdf) | Active (pump) | Coated Anasorb 747 tube (100/50mg) | GC-ECD | [226-178](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-anasorb-sorbent-tubes/#part-226-178) |
| **ASTM D4413** / Ethylene oxide by GC-FID / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](http://www.astm.org/Standards/D4413.htm) | Active (pump) | CSC Charcoal tube (800/200mg) (or JXC Charcoal tube (630/315mg) - N/A from SKC) |  | [226-16](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-anasorb-sorbent-tubes/#part-226-16) |
| **ASTM D5578** / Ethylene oxide by GC-ECD (HBr derivatisation) / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](http://www.astm.org/Standards/D5578.htm) | Active (pump) | Treated Anasorb 747 tube (100/50mg) | GC-ECD | [226-178](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-anasorb-sorbent-tubes/#part-226-178) |
| **Non-agency** / Ethylene oxide by Colorimetric analysis | Direct-reading | Gastec detector tube |  | [810-163](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/gastec-colour-gas-detector-tubes/#part-gst-163) / [810-163L](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/gastec-colour-gas-detector-tubes/#part-gst-163l) / [810-163LL](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/gastec-colour-gas-detector-tubes/#part-gst-163ll) |
| **Non-agency** / VOCs by solvent desorption and GC-FID / [Method document (opens in a new tab)](https://www.skcltd.com/images/pdfs/VOC_Chek_575_Series-Selection_Guide.pdf) | Passive | Passive sampler |  | [575-005](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-ethylene-oxide-passive-samplers/#part-575-005) |
| **Non-agency 14** |  |  | GC |  |
| **Other** | Passive |  | GC-ECD | [575-005](https://analyt-mtc.com/catalog/product/skc-ethylene-oxide-passive-samplers/#part-575-005) |

Methods and limits as published by their agencies and summarised by SKC; check the current method and the limit that applies to you before sampling.

Source: [SKC Ltd (UK), Hazard Search, used with SKC's permission (opens in a new tab)](https://www.skcltd.com/hazard-search.html); [SKC Inc. (USA), Sampling Guides, used with SKC's permission (opens in a new tab)](https://international.skcinc.com/sampling-guides/)