ʻO ka ethylene oxide he kinoea lapalapa e hoʻoheheʻe maʻalahi i ka wai.He kemika ia i hana ʻia e ke kanaka i hoʻohana mua ʻia no ka hana ʻana i ka ethylene glycol (he mea hoʻohana no ka hana anti-freeze a me ka polyester).Hoʻohana ʻia ia e sterilize i nā mea lapaʻau a me nā lako.