Health-Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 86-328-1773, Memorial Hospital of Southern Oklahoma, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6378900

Gunter, B J; King, M

An environmental evaluation was made of possible exposure to waste anesthetic gases at the Memorial Hospital of Southern Oklahoma, Ardmore, Oklahoma. The hospital has six surgery rooms and a recovery room. During this evaluation four of the six were in use. Samples were taken for ethrane, halothane, isoflurane, and nitrous-oxide Of 22 air samples taken, two exceeded the NIOSH criteria for ethrane of 0.5 parts per million (ppm); one exceeded NIOSH criteria for halothane of 0.5 ppm. None exceeded the isoflurane NIOSH criteria of 0.5 ppm. One exceeded the nitrous oxide standards of 25 ppm. No leaks were found in the anesthesia administering machine, pop off valve scavenging system, or any other area of the operating room. About 26 air changes per hour occurred in the operating rooms. The four elevated exposures were attributed to improper fit on an intubation tube and face masks. The authors conclude that a hazard from exposure to waste anesthetic gases did not exist at this facility.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6378900
• Report Number(s): PB-87-204988/XAB; HETA-86-328-1773
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
ANESTHETICS
BUILDINGS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
CHALCOGENIDES
DRUGS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HOSPITALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICINE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SURGERY
TOXICITY