HHE determination report no. HHE-76-113-385, Englewood Hospital, Englewood, New Jersey.
Source
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
Abstract
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.
Keywords
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
CAS No.
10024-97-2; 151-67-7
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB-273730
Identifying No.
HHE-76-113-385
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
