[Pharmwaste] Ethylene Oxide Substitute?

[Catherine Zimmer]

Hi Tom,

Many healthcare facilities have moved away from EO and are now using
hydrogen peroxide plasma.  I believe the instrument is "Sterrad".  Other
options include ozone and of course the old standby, steam.  

You may want to get on the Practice Greenhealth listserve where you can
communicate directly with healthcare facility/sustainability type folks.
See, www.practicegreenhealth.org

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT

Industry Leader, Environmental and Regulatory

PSC Healthcare Services

Office:  651.645.7509

Mobile: 713.829.6365

 <http://www.pscnow.com/> www.pscnow.com

 <mailto:Catherine.zimmer at pscnow.com> Catherine.zimmer at pscnow.com

 

Live green now!

Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle.

 

 

 

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Thomas Hodges
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 2:53 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Ethylene Oxide Substitute?

 

Forgive me if this is off topic, but I hope you health care professionals
might help me.

 

Does anyone have data on acceptable substitutes for EtO as a sterilant in
hospital or veterinary environments? Our veterinary school currently uses
EtO but is growing increasingly concerned about EtO as a carcinogen, as well
as the extensive engineering controls required to keep clinicians safe. It
has a TWA of 1.0 ppm, with an excursion level of 5.0 ppm. Is there something
else out there that will sterilize as well as EtO, without the toxicity it
exhibits? Barring substitutions, does anyone have experience with any
engineering controls that would lower the action level to below 0.5 ppm,
thereby exempting some of the OSHA requirements when using EtO?

 

Sorry for any cross posts.

 

Thomas Hodges CHMM

Hazardous Materials Manager

Environmental Health & Safety

971 Camp Auburn Road

Auburn University AL  36849

(334) 703-7511

hodgetf at auburn.edu

 

And remember: if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the
precipitate.

 

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