NCIt definition : A colorless, highly reactive, liquid, cyclic ether with a slightly sweet odor. Beta-propiolactone
was used once mainly in the manufacture of acrylic acid and esters. It also was used
as a sterilant for medical materials and procedures. However, it is no longer used
for medical disinfection. Dermal exposure to beta-propiolactone causes the burning
or blistering of the skin, and ingestion of this substance burns the mouth and stomach
while exposure to its vapors causes severe irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory
tract. This substance is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. (NCI05);