Sterilization of 20 billion medical devices by ethylene oxide (ETO): Consequences of ETO closures and alternative sterilization technologies/solutions

•ETO is a safe and effective method that helps ensure the safety of medical devices•At present, there are no alternatives to ETO (ethylene oxide)•About 50,000 medical devices can only be sterilized by ETO•FDA is focusing on alternatives to ETO and reducing ETO emissions