Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 84-145-1604, Porter Memorial Hospital, Valparaiso, Indiana. [Anesthetic gases and ethylene oxide]

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6003940

Behrens, V; Burroughs, G E; Crandall, M; Daniels, W

Environmental and breathing-zone samples were analyzed for nitrous oxide, halogenated anesthetic gases, and ethylene-oxide at Porter Memorial Hospital, Valparaiso, Indiana in April, 1984. The evaluation was requested by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate the exposure of operating room personnel to anesthetic gases and central supply employees to ethylene-oxide. The authors conclude that some of the operating room personnel are overexposed to halogenated anesthetic gases and nitrous-oxide. Recommendations include performing better maintenance of the anesthesia equipment, improving the work practices of the anesthesiologists, and periodically checking the ethylene-oxide sterilizer system for leaks.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6003940
• Report Number(s): PB-86-145174/XAB; HETA-84-145-1604
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ANESTHETICS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
DISINFECTANTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HOSPITALS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
TOXICITY
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
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GERMICIDES
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MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
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500200* - Environment
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552000 - Public Health