Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 85-065-1578, United Hospital, Grand Forks, North Dakota. [Ethylene oxide]

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6060121

Gunter, B J

Environmental and breathing zone samples were analyzed for ethylene-oxide at United Hospital, Grand Forks, North Dakota in January, 1985. The survey was requested by the management to determine if using ethylene-oxide for sterilization purposes posed a health risk. All employees (number not specified) in the central supply department were interviewed. These concentrations originated from an old sterilizer. The sterilizer was not normally used, but was operated on the day of the survey to stimulate a worst-case situation. None of the workers had any medical complaints. The author concludes that a health hazard due to ethylene-oxide does not exist at the facility. He recommends not using the old sterilizer until it has been refurbished and conducting periodic monitoring for ethylene/oxide with an infrared analyzer.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6060121
• Report Number(s): PB-86-141256/XAB; HETA-85-065-1578
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
HOSPITALS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
STERILIZATION
TOXICITY
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICINE
POLLUTION
SAFETY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health