Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report No. 78-80-521, Denver General Hospital, Denver, Colorado

摘要

Environmental breathing zone samples were collected on June 17 and 18, 1978, to determine concentrations of halothane (CAS 151-67-7), ethrane (CAS 13838-16-9), and nitrous oxide (CAS 10024-97-2) in the operating rooms of Denver General Hospital (SIC-8062) in Denver, Colorado. The evaluation was requested by the Chief of Anesthesiology on behalf of approximately 70 affected employees. The NIOSH standard of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) was exceeded in one out of 20 samples for ethrane and in two of 20 samples for halothane. Nitrous oxide concentrations exceeded the NIOSH recommended concentration of 25ppm in 6 of 65 samples. The author concludes that chemical concentrations were extremely low and did not pose an immediate danger to the health of the operating room personnel. The author recommends that concentrations be reduced to below NIOSH standards, that anesthetic equipment be checked and maintained on a regular basis and that operating rooms be monitored at least once a year to ensure that workers are not overexposed to waste anesthetic gases.