Ethylene oxide inozivikanwa seyakakura-spectrum uye inoshanda zvakanyanya gaseous disinfectant, zvakadaro inokuvadza zvakanyanya hutano hwevanhu, kuratidza huturu hunopfuura hwechloroform uye kabhoni tetrachloride.
Pakutanga, inotarisa nzira yekufema, kukonzera zviratidzo zvakadai sekusvotwa, kurutsa, manyoka, uye kurwadziwa, pamwe chete nekudzvinyirirwa kwehurongwa hwepakati. Muzviitiko zvakakomba, inogona kukwira kusvika kukutambudzika kwekufema uye pulmonary edema.