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Document ID (ISN)107984
CIS number 08-422
Year 2007
Convention or series no. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No.2007-151
Title Waste anesthetic gases - Occupational hazards in hospitals
Original title Gases anestésicos residuales - Riesgos ocupacionales en los hospitales [in Spanish]
Bibliographic information Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. iii, 9p. 9 ref.
Internet access http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-151/pdfs/2007-151.pdf [in English]
http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2007-151sp.html [in Spanish]
Abstract Small amounts of volatile anaesthetic gases can leak from the patient's anaesthetic breathing circuit into the air of operating rooms during delivery of anaesthesia. These gases may also be exhaled by patients recovering from anaesthesia. They generally include both nitrous oxide and halogenated anaesthetics such as halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, and methoxyflurane. The halogenated anaesthetics are often administered in combination with nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide and some of the halogenated anaesthetics may pose a hazard to hospital workers. The purpose of this booklet is to increase awareness about the adverse health effects of anaesthetic gases among hospital workers. It describes how workers are exposed to anaesthetic gases, recommends work practices to reduce these exposures and identifies methods to minimize leakage of anaesthetic gases into the work environment.
Descriptors (primary) USA; inhalation anaesthetics; health hazards; hospitals; health care personnel; operating theatres
Descriptors (secondary) sevoflurane; desflurane; halothane; nitrous oxide; safety guides; isoflurane; limitation of exposure; safe working methods; methoxyflurane
Document type F - Information notes, codes of practice, standards
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Commerce, services, offices
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Health care services