A mathematical model is derived for estimating the level of ethylene oxide (ETO) gas in room air due to emissions from an unventilated device for sterilizing medical instruments. For specified room volume and ventilation rate parameters, the model predicted average room air ETO levels that were consistent with the integrated ETO measurements reported by the sterilizer manufacturer. The model indicated that small room volume and/or low rate of room dilution ventilation could result in room air ETO levels in excess of the 8-h time-weighted average (TWA) and 15-min TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) values of 1 ppm and 5 ppm, respectively, set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In this regard, the modeling results contradicted the advertised claim of the sterilizer manufacturer that operating the sterilizer ensured compliance with the OSHA PELs for ETO. Nicas, M.; Spear, R.C.: Application of Mathematical Modeling for Ethylene Oxide Exposure Assessment. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 7(11):744–748; 1992.
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Nicas et al. (1992) studied this question.
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