Anesthetic exposure and health of dental personnel, 1 June 1978-30 November 1980

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6699930

Cohen, E N

An epidemiologic survey was conducted to determine possible health hazards in the dental profession, with particular attention being given to the results of exposure to anesthetic gases. The survey contacted 30,650 dentists and 30,547 chairside assistants who were subsequently grouped according to exposure to inhalation anesthetics in the dental operatory during the course of their employment experience. An increase in liver disease 1.7 above that expected was noted in male dentists heavily exposed to anesthetics, combined with a 1.2 fold increase for kidney disease and 1.9-fold increase for neurological disease. The spontaneous abortion rate in wives of male dentists was 1.5-fold higher than expected. Occupational exposure to anesthetics, either direct or indirect, was associated with significant increases in spontaneous abortion over control levels during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Women who smoked during pregnancy showed increased risk of spontaneous abortion, with a 27% increase occurring in dental assistants and a 21% increase in wives of dentists. A 34% increased risk of babies having congenital abnormalities was noted among smoking dental assistants.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA). Dept. of Anesthesia
• OSTI ID: 6699930
• Report Number(s): PB-88-247655/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANESTHETICS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
DENTISTRY
TOXIC MATERIALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
PROGRESS REPORT
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRUGS
HAZARDS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
POLLUTION
552000* - Public Health
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)