Control technology for ethylene oxide sterilization in hospitals

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7189236

Mortimer, W D; Kercher, S L

The report examines control methods and systems for EtO sterilization in hospitals. Nine sterilizer control systems were evaluated in eight hospitals during week-long, in-depth surveys. Three emission sources typically account for most of the EtO routinely released into the work environment. First, most of the EtO gas mixture from the chamber is released to the indoor atmosphere at the air gap located at the connection of the drain to the outlet of the water sealed vacuum pump. Second, the opening of the sterilizer door at the completion of the cycle may result in a very short high exposure to the sterilizer operator followed by an increase in the workroom EtO concentration. Third, the load transfer procedure provides the closest contact with EtO for the sterilizer operator: pulling the load from the sterilizer, transporting the load to the aerator, and inserting the load into the aerator. EtO exposures from hospital sterilizers can be controlled to not exceed a ceiling limit of 5 ppm and to average less than 0.1 ppm for a full shift.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• OSTI ID: 7189236
• Report Number(s): PB-90-164807/XAB; DHHS/PUB/NIOSH--89-120
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ALKENES
BUILDINGS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ETHYLENE
HOSPITALS
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RECOMMENDATIONS
STERILIZATION
VENTILATION