Wolman S R
J Environ Pathol Toxicol. 1979 Jul-Aug;2(6):1289-303.
Additional restrictions on exposure to ethylene oxide, an effective and widely-used sterilant, have recently been proposed (EPA, 1978). Substantial amounts of evidence indicate that ethylene oxide is mutagenic. The data from sub-mammalian systems, including demonstrations of point and chromosomal mutations in bacterial and eukaryotic systems, and from a limited number of studies in mammalian systems are reviewed. The accumulated information, and its context of current guidelines for mutagen testing, are considered in terms of extrapolation to evaluation of potential risk to exposed humans. The available evidence does not appear sufficient to condemn ethylene oxide as a human mutagen at currently acceptable exposure levels.
最近有人提议对环氧乙烷（一种有效且广泛使用的消毒剂）的接触进行更多限制（美国环境保护局，1978年）。大量证据表明环氧乙烷具有致突变性。本文综述了来自亚哺乳动物系统的数据，包括细菌和真核系统中基因突变和染色体突变的证据，以及来自哺乳动物系统的有限数量研究的数据。根据对接触环氧乙烷的人类潜在风险评估的外推法，考虑了累积的信息及其在当前致突变性测试指南中的背景。现有证据似乎不足以判定在当前可接受的接触水平下环氧乙烷对人类具有致突变性。
