Persistent asthma after accidental exposure to ethylene oxide.

Abstract

Ethylene oxide is a reactive epoxy compound mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF2>75) 2 25 1/sec, widely used as a precursor for industrial chemicals 44% of predicted) reversible by treatment with a and, to a lesser extent, as a disinfecting and fl-2-agonist and a bronchial hyperreactivity (FEV, sterilising agent.' In recent years the occupational fell by 20% with 600 pg acetylcholine). hazards of ethylene oxide, particularly leu-