Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 86-403-1747, St. James Community Hospital, Butte, Montana

Technical Report · Fri Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6471835

Gunter, B J

Management requested an evaluation of exposures to nitrous oxide, ethrane, and isoflurane in the surgical department at St. James Community Hospital, located in Butte, Montana. Air samples were collected and evaluated for ethrane content, at which time, five of the 13 samples were found to exceed the NIOSH evaluation criteria of 0.5 parts per million (ppm), being measured as high as 2.5ppm. Three of 13 isoflurane samples exceeded the criteria of 0.5ppm, with a maximum recorded concentration of 4.1ppm. Nitrous oxide content was determined in 20 breathing zone air samples; two showed concentrations exceeding the criteria of 25ppm. The health hazard was confirmed for exposure to ethrane, isoflurane, and nitrous oxide. It was recommended that anesthesiologists check slip connections and the high pressure nitrous oxide connections, as these are areas where high concentrations in the workroom air were noted. Continued maintenance of the flexible hose going to the ventilation system from the popoff valve should be instituted.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6471835
• Report Number(s): PB-87-185609/XAB; HETA-86-403-1747
• 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
BUILDINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HOSPITALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
MEDICINE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SURGERY
TOXICITY