Ethylene Oxide
- Other solvents
- CAS 75-21-8
- IUPAC: Oxirane
CarCareTruth tracks Ethylene Oxide (CAS 75-21-8) as a car-care ingredient. It is listed on California's Proposition 65 and classified as a VOC.
California Prop 65 listed for cancer and reproductive harm. In car care products, ethylene oxide is not an active ingredient — it is a trace residual from the manufacturing process for ethoxylated surfactants and emulsifiers. Trigger compound for Prop 65 warnings on many silicone-emulsion products despite the parts-per-million level of presence.
Ethylene oxide is a small, highly reactive epoxide gas used in industrial chemistry to manufacture ethoxylated surfactants (the "PEG-" prefix on cosmetic ingredient labels) and to sterilize medical equipment. It is a confirmed human carcinogen (IARC Group 1, NTP Known) and is listed on California's Proposition 65 list for cancer and reproductive harm.
In auto detailing products, ethylene oxide is rarely an intentional ingredient. It typically appears as a trace residual at parts-per-million levels in formulations that use ethoxylated surfactants or emulsifiers — the residual cannot be fully removed during manufacturing. California's Prop 65 has no exemption threshold for residual EO, so any detectable presence triggers the warning label.
The presence of a Prop 65 warning for ethylene oxide on a finished product does not mean the product is unsafe in normal consumer use, but it is a legitimate disclosure for an IARC Group 1 carcinogen and the relevant regulatory translation is the −1.5 health-score deduction the rubric applies to all Prop 65 warnings.
Health & environment profile
- VOC
- yes
- Prop 65 listed
- yes
- Asthmagen
- no
- EPA Safer Choice
- no
- Aquatic toxicity
- no
- Biodegradable
- yes
- Bioaccumulative
- no
- Persistent
- no
- Ozone depleting
- no
- Microplastic
- no
- PFAS
- no
- Env. score
- 2/5
Common questions about Ethylene Oxide
- What is Ethylene Oxide used for in car care?
- Trace residual from ethoxylated surfactants; not an active ingredient. California Prop 65 listed.
- Is Ethylene Oxide a VOC?
- Yes. Ethylene Oxide is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
- Is Ethylene Oxide on California's Proposition 65 list?
- Yes. Ethylene Oxide appears on California's Proposition 65 list.
- Is Ethylene Oxide biodegradable?
- Yes. Ethylene Oxide has a confirmed biodegradable profile.
No products on file contain this (yet)
Related
Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.