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HHE determination report no. HHE-76-113-385, Englewood Hospital, Englewood, New Jersey.

Burroughs GE

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 76-113-385, 1977 Apr; :1-13

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/76-113-385.pdf

00069939

A Health Hazard Evaluation investigation was conducted by NIOSH in the operating room, recovery room and delivery room areas of the Englewood, New Jersey, hospital (SIC-8062) on November 15-17, 1976. An authorized representative of the nursing personnel requested an investigation regarding exposure of personnel to waste anesthetic gases in these area, although there were no specific alleged health problems at the time the request was generated. Environmental air sampling indicated that the mean exposure of anesthesiologists to nitrous-oxide (10024972) was 160ppm, and to halogenated anesthetic (halothane (151677) and enflurane) was 1.4ppm. The average exposure of nurses to halogenated anesthetic was 0.4ppm. These concentrations exceed the NIOSH recommended limit of 0.25ppm nitrous- oxide and 0.5ppm halogenated anesthetic. Recommendations are made to reduce the concentration of waste anesthetic gas in the area of concern, including scavenging, general exhaust ventilation, work practices, and equipment maintenance.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; HHE-76-113-385; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-2; Air-quality-measurement; Toxic-chemicals; Health-care-facilities; Health-care-personnel; Medical-personnel; Fluorinated-ethanes; Halogenated-hydrocarbons; Physicians; Toxicology; Author Keywords: Nitrous Oxide; Halothane; Enflurane; Anesthesiologists; Anesthetic Gases

10024-97-2; 151-67-7

19770401

Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation

1977

PB-273730

A03

HHE-76-113-385

DSHEFS

8062

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NJ; OH