Industry-wide studies report of an industrial-hygiene survey at the Cutler US Army Community Hospital, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, January 7-10, 1985. [Ethylene oxide exposures]

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6654721

Elliott, L J

An industrial-hygiene survey of exposures to ethylene oxide at Cutler United States Army Community Hospital, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, was conducted in January 1985. Breathing-zone and general-area sampling for ethylene oxide in the Central Materials Supply (CMS) area was performed. The only personal protective equipment used by personnel in the CMS area was polyvinyl gloves to transfer sterilized items from the sterilizer to the aerator. Respiratory protective equipment was not used or provided. Breathing-zone ethylene oxide exposures ranged from below the detection limit to 0.83 part per million (ppm). Short-term exposures of 2.40 and 17.84ppm occurred. The OSHA 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) standard for ethylene oxide is 1.0ppm. Area ethylene oxide concentrations ranged up to 58.3ppm. The author concludes that except for the short term 17.84ppm exposure, which equals 1.1ppm on a TWA basis, breathing-zone ethylene oxide concentrations did not exceed the OSHA standard. Exposure potential in the hospital could be reduced further by improving work practices and installing engineering controls.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6654721
• Report Number(s): PB-89-101141/XAB; IWS-152.12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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