Oxirane and Cosmetics

Ethylene oxide ( Oxirane ) with a slight sweet odor  which is a raw material for the manufacture of ploysorbate 20 and polyethylene glycol which is less toxic.

Oxirane is a very toxic gas which is carcinogenic , mutagenic  and anaesthetic . It also cause skin allergy.

However, oxirane is used as an anti- freeze in production of poly- ethylenes.

in the production of polyester andpolyethylene terephthalate (PET – raw material for plastic bottles), liquid coolants and solvents.

 Polyethyleneglycols are used in perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, paint thinners and plasticizers. 

Ethylene glycol ethers are part of brake fluids, detergents, solvents, lacquers and paints. Other products of ethylene oxide. Ethanolamines are used in the manufacture of soap and detergents and for purification of natural gas. 

 

Ethoxylates are reaction products of ethylene oxide with higher alcohols, acids or amines. They are used in the manufacture of detergents, surfactants, emulsifiers and dispersants.

 It is one of the best sterilizer used in healthcare chemical industries for the reason, it inhibits the growth of micro organisms ( acts as a disinfectant ) and it completely washes them out in high concentration.

Ethylene oxide acts more strongly against bacteria, especially gram-positive bacteria, than against yeast and fungi. The disinfectant effect of ethylene oxide is similar to that of sterilization by heat, but because of limited penetration, it affects only the surface. The Sterility Assurance Level, after a certain specified exposure to ethylene oxide is 10⁻⁶, meaning that the chance of finding a single bacterium is below 1 per million.

 

ethylene oxide irritates mucous membranes of the nose and throat; higher contents cause damage to the trachea and bronchi, progressing into the partial collapse of the lungs. High concentrations can cause pulmonary edema and damage the cardiovascular system; the damaging effect of ethylene oxide may occur only after 72 hours after exposure. The maximum content of ethylene oxide in the air according to the U.S. standards  is 1.8 mg/m³.NIOSH has determined that the Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health level (IDLH) is 800 ppm.

Ethylene oxide causes acute poisoning, accompanied by the following symptoms: slight heartbeat, muscle twitching, flushing, headache, diminished hearing, acidosis, vomiting, dizziness, transient loss of consciousness and a sweet taste in the mouth. Acute intoxication is accompanied by a strong throbbing headache, dizziness, difficulty in speech and walking, sleep disturbance, pain in the legs, weakness, stiffness, sweating, increased muscular irritability, transient spasm of retinal vessels, enlargement of the liver and suppression of its antitoxic functions.

Ethylene oxide easily penetrates through the clothing and footwear, causing skin irritation and dermatitis with the formation of blisters, fever and leukocytosis

Ethylene oxide is toxic by inhalation. Symptoms of overexposure include headache and dizziness, progressing with increasing exposure to convulsions, seizure and coma. It is also an irritant to skin and the respiratory tract, and inhaling the vapors may cause the lungs to fill with fluid several hours after exposure.

Ethylene oxide is usually stored as a pressurized or refrigerated liquid. At room temperature and pressure, it rapidly evaporates, potentially causing frostbite in cases of skin exposure. Laboratory animals exposed to ethylene oxide for their entire lives have had a higher incidence of liver cancer. However, studies on human beings who have worked with ethylene oxide for extended periods and may have experienced low doses during that time have found no increase in cancer risk. Chronic ethylene oxide exposure may increase the risk of cataracts in humans.

In animals, ethylene oxide can cause numerous reproductive effects, including mutations and a higher rate of miscarriages. Its reproductive effects on humans have not been well studied, but it is considered probable that ethylene oxide exposure has similar effects on human reproduction.

A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. For example, water (H2O) is a compound consisting of two hydrogen atoms bonded to every oxygen atom.

 Breast Cancer

 Scientists from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied breast cancer incidence in 7,576 women exposed to ethylene oxide while working in commercial sterilization facilities. They found an increased incidence of breast cancer among these women in direct proportion to their cumulative exposure to ethylene oxide (Steenland, 2003). Although there are contradictory data in the recent literature, several other reports support the finding that exposure to ethylene oxide is associated with increased risk for breast cancer in women (Adam, 2005).

 Baby Cosmetics

 The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has cancelled Johnson and Johnson's (J&J) licence for manufacturing cosmetics, following complaints of carcinogenic substances residue in its talcum powder for infants.

- Ref : Wiki and Web resources ( Based on the news published on thehindubusinessline.com ]