Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-2005-0157-3110, Children's Dentistry at Hamilton Mill, Dacula, Georgia, July 2010. Assessment of Nitrous Oxide Exposure in a Pediatric Dentistry

摘要

On March 2, 2005, NIOSH received a management request for an HHE at Children's Dentistry at Hamilton Mill in Dacula, Georgia. The request was submitted in response to employee concerns that continued exposure to N2O may result in infertility and spontaneous abortions. Seventeen task-based and eighteen full-shift PBZ air samples for N2O were collected on two dentists and eight dental assistants during the survey. One of the full-shift samples, collected on a dentist, exceeded the NIOSH REL of 25 ppm as a TWA. Several task-based samples also exceeded the NIOSH REL. Additionally, two full-shift PBZ samples were collected on receptionists in the reception area; neither of these samples contained detectable concentrations of N2O. The sampling was done over 2 days using passive sampling badges. NIOSH engineers reviewed drawings of the clinic's ventilation system. The building ventilation system in place during the NIOSH evaluation did not supply adequate outdoor air to the treatment rooms.