Ethylene Oxide

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Carcinogen

CAS Number: 75-21-8

Ethylene Oxide (CAS 75-21-8) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The TRI requires industrial facilities above specified threshold quantities to disclose annual manufacturing, processing, and otherwise-used volumes, along with quantities released to air, water, land, and off-site transfers.

Across the United States, 155 facilities have filed TRI Form R disclosures for Ethylene Oxide, with a cumulative reported release volume of 875.7K lbs. The chemical carries a carcinogen classification in the TRI database, based on assessments from EPA, IARC, or the National Toxicology Program. The largest individual disclosure in the current dataset comes from HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICAL LLC PORT NECHES FACILITY in TX at 127.9K lbs.

TRI volumes are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions, and each pound counts equally regardless of chemical toxicity, so total pounds should not be equated with total risk. Inclusion of a chemical or facility in the TRI does not itself establish a health hazard; it documents the public right-to-know record. Consult EPA's IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for health-effect summaries.

Release Summary

Total Releases
875.7K lbs
Number of Facilities
155
Carcinogen
Yes
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant
No

Which facilities release the most of this chemical?

Facilities with the largest reported releases of Ethylene Oxide. Up to 50 shown.

# Facility Release (lbs)
1 Huntsman Petrochemical LLC Port Neches Facility 127.9K lbs
2 Basf Corp 61.0K lbs
3 Ineos Oxide Bayport Eo Plant 50.2K lbs
4 The Dow Chemical Co - Louisiana Operations 47.7K lbs
5 St Charles Operations (taft/star) Union Carbide Corp 42.7K lbs
6 Sterilization Services of Virginia 35.5K lbs
7 Union Carbide Corp Seadrift Plant 33.9K lbs
8 Midwest Sterilization Corp 31.9K lbs
9 Eastman Chemical Co Texas Operations 29.1K lbs
10 Celanese Ltd Clear Lake Plant 26.0K lbs
11 Shell Chemical LP 23.9K lbs
12 Huntsman Petrochemical LLC 22.6K lbs
13 Tm Deer Park Services LP 20.6K lbs
14 Formosa Plastics Corp Texas 20.4K lbs
15 Baxter Healthcare Corp 20.4K lbs
16 Lacc LLC Us/lotte Chemical Louisiana LLC 18.7K lbs
17 Sasol Chemicals (usa) Llc-Lake Charles Chemical Complex 17.4K lbs
18 Lyondell Chemical Co 14.7K lbs
19 Harcros Chemicals Inc 12.3K lbs
20 Dow Chemical Co Freeport Facility 12.0K lbs
21 Evonik Corp 11.7K lbs
22 Sterling Specialty Chemicals LLC 11.2K lbs
23 Monument Chemical Kentucky LLC 10.8K lbs
24 Royal Sterilization Systems 8.4K lbs
25 Ingredion Inc 7.5K lbs
26 Terumo Bct Sterilization Services Inc 7.3K lbs
27 Sterilization Services of Tennessee 7.3K lbs
28 Becton Dickinson & Co Covington Operations 7.2K lbs
29 Croda Inc 7.0K lbs
30 Becton Dickinson & Co Madison Operations 6.9K lbs
31 Becton Dickinson & Co 6.5K lbs
32 Midwest Sterilization Corp 6.4K lbs
33 Edwards Lifesciences Technology Sarl 6.0K lbs
34 B. Braun US Device Manufacturing LLC 6.0K lbs
35 Ashland Specialty Ingredients Gp 5.0K lbs
36 Bcp Ingredients Inc. 4.8K lbs
37 Specialty Products US LLC - Polyox Plant 4.4K lbs
38 Ethicon Inc 4.1K lbs
39 Lanxess Corp 4.0K lbs
40 Basf Corp 3.9K lbs
41 International Sterilization Laboratory 3.8K lbs
42 Union Carbide Corp Institute Facility 3.8K lbs
43 Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC 2.9K lbs
44 Championx-Freeport 2.8K lbs
45 Bd Medical 2.6K lbs
46 Steri-Tech Inc. 2.2K lbs
47 Basf Corp 2.1K lbs
48 Meglobal Oyster Creek 2.0K lbs
49 Indorama Ventures Oxides LLC 1.9K lbs
50 Nouryon Surface Chemistry LLC 1.8K lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ethylene Oxide?
Ethylene Oxide (CAS Number: 75-21-8) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. It is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen. 155 facilities in the United States report releasing this chemical to the EPA.
How much Ethylene Oxide is released in the U.S.?
U.S. facilities have reported a total of 875.7K lbs of Ethylene Oxide releases to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory across 155 facilities. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. This includes releases to air, water, land, and off-site transfers.
Is Ethylene Oxide harmful to health?
Ethylene Oxide is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen by the EPA, based on evaluations from IARC, NTP, or EPA itself. Health effects depend on exposure levels, duration, and route. For specific health questions, consult a toxicologist or your local health agency.
Which facilities release the most Ethylene Oxide?
The largest reported releasers of Ethylene Oxide include facilities across multiple states. Release data is self-reported annually to the EPA under the TRI program. View the full list of 155 facilities on this page.
What is the CAS number for Ethylene Oxide?
The CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) Registry Number for Ethylene Oxide is 75-21-8. CAS numbers are unique numerical identifiers assigned to every chemical substance described in the open scientific literature. This identifier is used to search scientific databases and regulatory filings.

Health Information

Carcinogen Classification: This chemical is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen by the EPA under the Toxic Release Inventory program. This classification is based on evaluations by agencies including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the EPA itself.

Data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Release quantities are self-reported by facilities and may represent estimates. The total shown aggregates reports across all facilities and reporting years.

PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a chemical in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk at current exposure levels. For health-related questions about specific chemical exposures, consult your local health agency or a toxicologist.

Related

Data sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.