Product sterilization. Why industry uses radiation
Industry uses gamma radiation sterilization because of its superior reliability, safety, and cost savings over the EO fumigation method. EO has many processing variables and is toxic and expensive. The Environmental Protection Agency has recently declared EO to be both mutagenic and carcinogenic. The residual EO in hospital products has been reported to adversely affect hospital workers. Unlike EO fumigation, radiation sterilization imparts no toxic residuals. The coloration and embrittlement problems experienced earlier with some products sterilized by gamma radiation are being overcome with the introduction of new manufacturing materials and lower radiation dosages. Other benefits of radiation sterilization include the option of sterilizing some materials that could not otherwise be sterilized and using new types of packaging to better protect the products and increase shelf-life. The emphasis now being placed on cost containment for health care products will be another significant part of the answer to why industry uses gamma radiation sterilization.
- Research Organization:
- Pepperdine Univ., Los Angeles
- OSTI ID:
- 5650515
- Journal Information:
- AORN J.; (United States), Vol. 40:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIOSTERILIZATION
EVALUATION
BACTERIA
GAMMA RADIATION
RADIATION DOSES
US EPA
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MICROORGANISMS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIATIONS
STERILIZATION
US ORGANIZATIONS
560130* - Radiation Effects on Microorganisms