Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 87-243-292-1876, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, California

摘要

In response to a request from the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SIC-8062), Santa Barbara, California, an evaluation was made of possible health hazards. Attention was directed in particular to waste anesthetic gases and vapors in the Outpatient Surgery Center and the main operating rooms. A second concern was ethylene-oxide (EtO) exposures from a gas sterilizer, and samples were taken during operation of this equipment. Personal and area air samples were collected during surgery and analyzed for nitrous-oxide (N20), halogenated anesthetic agents, and methyl-methacrylate. Only two samples exceeded the NIOSH REL of 25 ppm for N2O. Eight samples exceeded the NIOSH REL of 0.5/ppm for halogenated anesthetics used in combination with N2O. The Outpatient Surgery Center had only about half the recommended number of air changes per hour. Contaminant concentrations are maintained below the environmental criteria in most samples, but a potential for overexposure to N2O and forane exists. The authors recommend improving general ventilation at the facility, work practices, exposure monitoring, equipment maintenance, and the use of scavenging systems for waste gases.