Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 87-176-1826, St. James Community Hospital, Butte, Montana

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5413199

Gunter, B J

In response to a request from the Director of Nursing Service at St. James Community Hospital located in Butte, Montana, an evaluation was made of exposures to glutaraldehyde in the respiratory therapy and sigmoidoscopy departments of the hospital, where it was used in equipment sterilization. Glutaraldehyde concentrations in three breathing-zone samples were 0.25mg/cu m, 0.38mg/cu m, and below the detection level. Of six general area samples, five showed measurable concentrations ranging from 0.48 to 0.209mg/cu m. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has set a threshold-limit value of 0.7mg/cu m ceiling value for glutaraldehyde. The author concludes that no health hazard exists for glutaraldehyde in these operations. Informal interviews of technicians in the two departments did not reveal any health problems that could be attributed to glutaraldehyde exposure. Respiratory therapy equipment was cleaned in a hallway used as a passageway for other personnel. It is recommended that an improved arrangement be devised for cleaning respiratory equipment and that the area used for the purpose not be used as a hallway. The author also recommends that the ventilation system for the sigmoidoscope disinfecting operations be shared with other facilities, as it was very effective.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5413199
• Report Number(s): PB-88-162763/XAB; HETA-87-176-1826
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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