I-ethylene oxide yamkelwa njengesibulali-ntsholongwane esisebenza kakhulu kwigesi, okwangoku yenza umonakalo omkhulu kwimpilo yabantu, ebonisa amanqanaba etyhefu adlula lawo eklorofomu kunye ne-carbon tetrachloride.
Ekuqaleni, ijolise kwindlela yokuphefumla, ukwenza iimpawu ezifana nesicaphucaphu, ukugabha, urhudo, kunye neentlungu, kunye noxinzelelo lwenkqubo ye-nervous central. Kwiimeko ezinzima, inokunyukela kuxinzelelo lokuphefumla kunye ne-pulmonary edema.