Occupational disease in dentistry and chronic exposure to trace anesthetic gases.
Authors
Cohen-EN; Brown-BW; Wu-ML; Whitcher-CE; Brodsky-JB; Gift-HC; Greenfield-W; Jones-TW; Driscoll-EJ
Source
J Am Dent Assoc 1980 Jul; 101(1):21-31
Abstract
Use of inhalation anesthetics and sedatives by health professionals in dentistry was surveyed. Inhalation anesthetic user and nonuser study groups of 15,000 each were queried about general health conditions, birth experiences, personal habits, and estimated hours of use of inhalation agents. In general, there were increased general health problems and reproductive difficulties for personnel exposed to anesthetic gases. Spouses were also affected. Male dentists exposed to anesthetics had liver, kidney, and neurological diseases at 1.7, 1.2, and 1.9 times the nonexposed rate, respectively. Their wives had spontaneous abortions at 1.5 times the nonexposed rate. Female dental assistants exposed to inhalation anesthetics had liver, kidney, and neurological diseases at 1.6, 1.7, and 2.8 times the nonexposed rates, respectively, and 2.3 times more spontaneous abortions. Congenital abnormalities were not increased in the offspring of exposed male dentists, and were insignificantly increased in female dental assistants, except when they were exposed to nitrous-oxide (10024972) alone. The latter exposure increased deformed births by 1.5 times. An indication of increased cancer risk was present for female chairside assistants. The authors recommend continued study and development of control measures to protect personnel.
Keywords
NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Grant; Reproductive-system-disorders; Epidemiology; Anesthesia; Medical-personnel; Technical-personnel; Gases; Workplace-studies; Medical-research; Medical-treatment; Reproductive-effects; Physiology
Contact
Anesthesia Stanford University Department of Anesthesia Stanford, Calif 94305
Document Type
Journal Article
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-00775
Priority Area
Reproductive-system-disorders
Source Name
The Journal of the American Dental Association
Performing Organization
Stanford University, Stanford, California
