Ethylene oxide on covid swabs?

[Kaylasmum49]

I had a friend send me an article about the swabs used in covid tests being coated in ethylene oxide. It says that there is a risk of certain cancers with using the swabs. I think my friend is being sucked into the conspiracy theories and she keeps trying to get me to read all these theories.

Has anyone heard anything concerning about the swabs. My dd is testing twice weekly for school.

[QueenStromba]

Ethylene is the gas that bananas produce as they ripen (it's the stuff that makes other fruit ripen quicker if they're next to a banana and why bananas go black quickly if you put them in a bag).

[Kaylasmum49]

So there are no risks involved then?

[KingstonTownThePlaceILongToBe]

I have heard this a few times but only from conspiracy nutters, I pay them no attention.

[Saucery]

So she’s getting sucked into batshit anti-vacc conspiracy theories and you thought you’d spread them further on here?
I wish MNHQ would clamp down on these disingenuous anti-vacc posts.

[Buzzinwithbez]

I would like to understand more about it too.
Is there a residue left behind? And what is considered to be a safe level, especially if testing twice per week rather than using a swab as a one off.

I came across this
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ethylene_oxide_in_connection_wit

And this
www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/19951-extremely-hazardous-alert-warns-against-using-ethylene-oxide-to-sterilize-masks-respirators

And this, which suggests it could be absorbed by the swabs. It's making me feel cautious.
analyteguru.com/fighting-covid-19-the-double-face-of-ethylene-oxide-eo/

[Kaylasmum49]

saucery No, I am not spreading anything. I am asking a question! Is that not allowed? I have no issues with my dd testing twice a week as I think it's the responsible thing to do but was wanting other opinions on the matter.

[Buzzinwithbez]

This is talking about exposure to them of people stop l working with storing and transporting them in large quantities

www.gasdetection.com/gas-detection-knowledge-base/interesting-applications/covid-19-swabs-ethylene-oxide-and-warehouses/

[Layladylay234]

@Kaylasmum49

saucery No, I am not spreading anything. I am asking a question! Is that not allowed? I have no issues with my dd testing twice a week as I think it's the responsible thing to do but was wanting other opinions on the matter.

On Mumsnet, unfortunately,you are absolutely not allowed to question things about this pandemic. If you do,you are known going forward as a conspiracy theorist,a covidiot or someone who's willing to kill their granny.

[BuildThemSkywards]

Hi. Chemist here. While I don't work with ethylene oxide myself, I understand enough to have a say.

Ethylene oxide is a gas which is used in the sterilisation process. If you look at the safety data sheet for it then, yes, it looks scary. But that is for people such as chemists/ those handling it so they can see the worst case scenario and risk assess properly.

There have been plenty of papers done which look at the risk of ethylene oxide as a sanitising agent. All which I have seen state that levels of EO on swabs are below measurable levels after 3 weeks. So the risk EO exposure is negligible. The cancer risk you mention is for those who work with it in extremely high concentrations, and even then that can be managed with the correct control measures.

[Motorina]

It's a non-issue.

Ethylene oxide is a gas and has been used for years to sterilise swabs for DNA collection. Concerns have been raised that trace amounts of it remaining in the swab might damage the tiny amounts of DNA picked up on the swab, reducing the information which can be gained from it.

So there's been research done on how much remains on these swabs. Levels fall rapidly to below the point where they can be detected, particularly on synthetic swabs, like those used in the lateral flow tests.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1355030616300971

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28063580/

If they're not damaging DNA collected and held directly on the swab, for hours or days, then they're not damaging the DNA in your nose in the few seconds the swab has been in contact with it.

Does your friend smoke? Drink alcohol? Have sex? Cook meat? Go out in the sun? Put diesel in the car? If so, she's exposed to far, far more powerful carcinogens than this.

[RaspberrySocks]

You are already more exposed to cancer causing particles by using plastic products in your day to day life, taking lungfulls of polluted air, breathing in the benzene given off at petrol stations... The list goes on....

[Buzzinwithbez]

Buildthemskywards thankyou!

[Saucery]

Oh look, some scientists have already looked into for you and it’s safe. You wouldn’t have thought they’d do that, would you?

[Alittlelouder]

I wish MNHQ would clamp down on these disingenuous anti-vacc posts

What are you on about? This post is about swabs not vaccines

[Saucery]

@Alittlelouder

I wish MNHQ would clamp down on these disingenuous anti-vacc posts

What are you on about? This post is about swabs not vaccines

Fair point, although the type of fool who is antivax tends to get in a tizz over everything scientific. It’s a bit like a dog being unable to comprehend the existence of cars.

I wish MNHQ would clamp down on these disingenuous anti-science and rationality posts.

There you go, fixed that for you

[Buzzinwithbez]

@Saucery

Oh look, some scientists have already looked into for you and it’s safe. You wouldn’t have thought they’d do that, would you?

I'm glad the op asked. There have been some excellent, reassuring responses and it's been a very productive thread. I'm sure anyone else who's been slightly worried will find it puts their mind at rest too.

[Kaylasmum49]

Saucery looks like you got out of bed on the wrong side this morning and are itching for a fight.

I am not a fool, anti vax, irrational or anti science! I was asking a question and have received some reassuring applies that haven't ridiculed me......apart from yours.

[notrub]

Ethylene oxide is a sterilizing agent.
It's been used on all kinds of medical equipment for donkey's years.

If you inhale it as a gas, it's harmful hence the scary COSH sheets for those who USE the gas.

The odd molecule left residually on something is completely harmless. If you analysed most things for scary substances at THAT level of detail, you'd find toxic chemicals on everything - most of them natural ones lol.

In short this is just another attempt by those who see modern medicine as the enemy and want us all to go back to dying at 40, (because that's more "natural"), to sow doubt in the minds of those easily influenced by conspiracy theories.

[bobbiester]

Ethylene oxide is a gas at room temperature. There's not going to be many molecules left on a swab.

[blametheparents]

@Kaylasmum49
I’m grateful that you’ve asked this question. I have found the answers reassuring.

[Northernsoulgirl45]

Only twice a week @lyndseylouhugh223
Love to know how you can limit all exposure to toxins. You would never leave the House with exhaust fumes etc etc.

[2boysand1princess]

[quote blametheparents]@Kaylasmum49
I’m grateful that you’ve asked this question. I have found the answers reassuring.[/quote]
Same here, thanks OP.
Nothing anti-science, antivac or conspiracy theory about your question. I was sent a video with the same claims. I’m still testing my kids twice a week, but it’s nice to know a little more info about the ethylene oxide in question.

[bobbiester]

lyndseylouhugh223

You are suggesting that people can reduce their risk of cancer by not swabbing. There is no evidence to support this view and people have explained why it is implausible.

It's not actually much more plausible than the crazy suggestions about swabs being used to implant nanabots and microchips for mind control (yes there are cranks suggesting this)