Abstract A contaminant was found to leach into the contents of two brands of disposable syringes. It was identified as 2-(2-hydroxyethyl-mercapto) benzothiazole and is believed to be formed during manufacture of the syringes as a result of a reaction between 2- mercaptobenzothiazole, a rubber vulcanization accelerator, and ethylene oxide, used for sterilization. The contaminant was isolated from the rubber plunger-seal and identified ...
