Ethylene Oxide used in RAT tests
Erica made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
The request was partially successful.
From: Erica
Dear Ministry of Health,
Please can you confirm the following;
1) is ethylene oxide present on the RAT test swabs used in New Zealand currently?
2) is ethylene oxide a known carcinogen?
3) if so, does this present a public safety / health risk by exposing sensitive cells to a cancer causing chemical?
Yours faithfully,
Erica
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Erica,
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202205442
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
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If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [2][email address]
-----Original Message-----
From: Erica <[FOI #19141 email]>
Sent: Friday, 15 April 2022 8:11 pm
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Ethylene Oxide used in RAT tests
Dear Ministry of Health,
Please can you confirm the following;
1) is ethylene oxide present on the RAT test swabs used in New Zealand
currently?
2) is ethylene oxide a known carcinogen?
3) if so, does this present a public safety / health risk by exposing
sensitive cells to a cancer causing chemical?
Yours faithfully,
Erica
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From: OIA Requests
Tçnâ koe Erica,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 15 April 2022 regarding
rapid antigen tests and ethylene oxide. You asked:
“1) is ethylene oxide present on the RAT test swabs used in New Zealand
currently?
2) is ethylene oxide a known carcinogen?
3) if so, does this present a public safety / health risk by exposing
sensitive cells to a cancer causing chemical?”
The Ministry does not hold information for part two of your request,
however I have been advised this information is held by the Environmental
Protection Authority (EPA). For this reason, I have decided to partially
transfer part two of your request to EPA under section 14(b)(i) of the
Act. You can expect a response from EPA in due course.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Nâku noa, nâ
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [2][email address]
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From: OIA Requests
Tçnâ koe Erica
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 15 April 2022 regarding
Rapid Antigen tests (RATs) and ethylene oxide. I will respond to each part
of your request in turn:
1) is ethylene oxide present on the RAT test swabs used in New Zealand
currently?
A list of all approved RATs by the Ministry is available here:
[1]www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/covid-19-testing/rapid-antigen-testing-rat#regulatory.
Please refer to the label on the packaging for use of ethylene oxide.
Note ethylene oxide is a surface disinfectant that is widely used in
hospitals and the medical equipment industry to replace steam in the
sterilization of heat-sensitive tools and equipment. Long term exposure to
ethylene oxide increases the risk of some cancers.
Further information on ethylene oxide can be found on the Environmental
Production Authority’s (EPA) website:
[2]www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/approved-hazardous-substances-with-controls/view/BEC1BF50-C250-43B4-A8B7-A57575380AFD.
2) is ethylene oxide a known carcinogen?
On 5 April 2022, this part of your request was transferred to EPA. You can
expect a response from EPA in due course.
3) if so, does this present a public safety / health risk by exposing
sensitive cells to a cancer causing chemical?
The Ministry understands you have made a similar request on ethylene oxide
published here:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/request/15013-use-of-....
Please refer to your previous request for further information.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [4][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [5][email address]
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From: Ministerials
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Good afternoon
Please find attached a response to the part of your Official Information
Act request that was transferred to the EPA (question 2).
Kind regards,
Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)
Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence
+64 4 474 5442
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Follow us on [2]Facebook, [3]Twitter and [4]LinkedIn.
Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.
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From: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 5 May 2022 4:04 pm
To: [FOI #19141 email]
Subject: Partial transfer of your request (ref: H202205442)
Tçnâ koe Erica,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 15 April 2022 regarding
rapid antigen tests and ethylene oxide. You asked:
“1) is ethylene oxide present on the RAT test swabs used in New Zealand
currently?
2) is ethylene oxide a known carcinogen?
3) if so, does this present a public safety / health risk by exposing
sensitive cells to a cancer causing chemical?”
The Ministry does not hold information for part two of your request,
however I have been advised this information is held by the Environmental
Protection Authority (EPA). For this reason, I have decided to partially
transfer part two of your request to EPA under section 14(b)(i) of the
Act. You can expect a response from EPA in due course.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [5][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Nâku noa, nâ
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [6][email address]
References
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5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]
Virginia Crawford left an annotation ()
Ethylene oxide is used as a fumigant, a sterilant for food (spices) and cosmetics, and in hospital sterilization of surgical equipment and plastic devices that cannot be sterilized by steam (EPA 2017b; Parod 2014; Ribeiro 1994; WHO 2003). Ethylene oxide is highly effective as a sterilant gas where it can penetrate packaging (such as cardboard, shrink wrap, paper, and other wrappings) and destroy bacteria and viruses (EPA 2004). Ethylene oxide is the primary fumigation/sterilization method for reducing bacteria levels in spices/herbs and black walnuts. According to the EPA (2008) RED, approximately 8.2 million pounds of ethylene oxide are used annually in the United States for commercial fumigation/sterilization. Of the 8.2 million pounds, approximately 7.4 million pounds are used annually for sterilization of medical and laboratory items/equipment.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp...
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Virginia Crawford left an annotation ()
So Ethylene Oxide is used to sterilise medical equipment?
And it is a class 1 carcinogen?
(The main chemical created from EO is ethylene glycol, a chemical used in products from brake fluid to industrial solvents.)
And yet it's also being used in both PCR and RAT tests. People's tissues are being exposed to this chemical every time they take a PCR or RAT test.
Yet the Ministry of Health will not comment on whether this is a risk to the public?
Is the public aware of this?
NO, clearly not.
Link to this