ethylene oxide

nounChemistry.

a colorless, odorless, gaseous, toxic, ring compound, C2H4O, usually obtained by the oxidation of ethylene: used chiefly in the synthesis of ethylene glycol.

Origin of ethylene oxide

First recorded in 1895–1900

Words Nearby ethylene oxide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ethylene oxide in a sentence

Pulmonary embolism is the third leading cause of death brought on by cardiovascular disease, which researchers have linked to higher exposure of ethylene oxide.
The Dirty Secret of America’s Clean Dishes | by Max Blau and Lylla Younes, photography by Kathleen Flynn, special to ProPublica | December 20, 2021 | ProPublica
Since then, studies have found that exposure to ethylene oxide and benzene, which Garrett’s dad said he worked closely with, has been associated with higher rates of that kind of cancer.
When Home Is a Toxic Hot Spot | by Maya Miller, Alyssa Johnson, Lisa Song and Max Blau, photography by Kathleen Flynn, special to ProPublica | December 15, 2021 | ProPublica
So the EPA allowed facilities to estimate their emissions of hazardous air pollutants, also called air toxics, like hexavalent chromium and ethylene oxide that can cause cancer, respiratory illnesses, heart problems and other ailments.
They Knew Industrial Pollution Was Ruining the Neighborhood’s Air. If Only Regulators Had Listened. | by Lisa Song, with additional reporting by Ava Kofman, photography by Kathleen Flynn, special to ProPublica | November 29, 2021 | ProPublica
Our analysis found that ethylene oxide is the biggest contributor to excess industrial cancer risk from air pollutants nationwide.
Poison in the Air | by Lylla Younes, Ava Kofman, Al Shaw and Lisa Song, with additional reporting by Maya Miller, photography by Kathleen Flynn for ProPublica | November 2, 2021 | ProPublica
One drawback, common to both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, is toxicity.
U.S. Patent 4,293,314: Gelled Fuel-Air Explosive | Bertram O. Stull

Propylene oxide is less toxic than ethylene oxide but is still highly toxic.
U.S. Patent 4,293,314: Gelled Fuel-Air Explosive | Bertram O. Stull
Left alone in a fuel air explosive weapon or other container, ethylene oxide tends to self polymerize.
U.S. Patent 4,293,314: Gelled Fuel-Air Explosive | Bertram O. Stull
Unpolymerized ethylene oxide, on the 50 other hand is highly desirable as a fuel insofar as detonability is concerned.
U.S. Patent 4,293,314: Gelled Fuel-Air Explosive | Bertram O. Stull

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