Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 87-063-1808, Presbyterian Day Surgery Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5015182

Daniels, W J; Gunter, B

In response to a request from employees to evaluate exposures to waste anesthetic gases and vapors at the Presbyterian Day Surgery Unit, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, personal and area air-sampling and leak-detection testing was carried out for nitrous oxide (N/sub 2/O) and halogenated anesthetic agents in the six operating rooms at the facility. Nitrous oxide concentrations ranged from not detectable to 95 parts per million (ppm) with a mean of 20ppm. Five of the samples exceeded the NIOSH limit of 25ppm for N/sub 2/O during anesthetic administration. Ethrane levels in 14 personal and area air samples ranged from less than the limit of detection to 3.63ppm with a mean of 0.31ppm. Isoflurane and halothane were below the limits of detection. The ventilation system in use changed the air in excess of 20 times per hour. However, during a portion of surgical procedures the system was not operating, resulting in a higher than normal exposure level in three of the operating rooms.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5015182
• Report Number(s): PB-88-153259/XAB; HETA-87-063-1808
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ANESTHETICS
NITROUS OXIDE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
NITROGEN OXIDES
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
CHALCOGENIDES
DRUGS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health