Waste Anesthetic Gases–Occupational Hazards in Hospitals

Waste anesthetic gases are small amounts of volatile anesthetic gases that leak from the patient's anesthetic breathing circuit into the air of operating rooms during delivery of anesthesia. These gases may also be exhaled by patients recovering from anesthesia. The purpose of this brochure is to: 1) increase awareness about the adverse health effects of waste anesthetic gases, 2) describe how workers are exposed to waste anesthetic gases, 3) recommend work practices to reduce these exposures, and 4) Identify methods to minimize leakage of anesthetic gases into the work environment.