Health Care Sector - Occupational Monitoring & Analysis
Healthcare workers are exposed daily to chemical agents in their workplace. Sources include anaesthetic gases, sterilant gases, solvents and disinfectants.
Anaesthetic gases:
Trace levels of anaesthetic gases in operating rooms and other areas of healthcare facilities can result from equipment leaks, anaesthetic technique, exhalation of residual gases by patients and waste gases. To ensure the safety of healthcare workers, a monitoring programme of trace anaesthetic gas levels is recommended.
Nitrous oxide is frequently used as an
anaesthetic
in operating rooms, emergency rooms, or inpatient settings. Low levels of this chemical have been associated with central
nervous system, cardiovascular, and reproductive effects in humans along with a decrement in audiovisual performance. The Health and Safety Authority (Chemical Agents Regulations) 2007 Code of Practice specifies an 8-hour TWA limit of 30 mg/m3 and a STEL (15 minute reference period) of 45 mg/m3 for Nitrous oxide.
Halogenated anesthetic gases including enflurane, halothane, isoflurane, and desflurane are frequently administered in conjunction with nitrous oxide. These compounds can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. In addition, chronic exposure to halogenated anesthetic gases has been linked to an increased risk of reproductive hazards along with hepatic and renal disease. The Health and Safety Authority (Chemical Agents Regulations) 2007 Code of Practice specifies an 8-hour TWA limit of 80 mg/m3 for halothane, 380 mg/m3 for enflurane and isoflurane.
Sterilant gases:
Ethylene oxide is routinely used in healthcare facilities to sterilize medical devices and equipment. This chemical agent is critical in the hospital environment as it can be used to sterilize heat and moisture sensitive items that can not be sterilized effectively by steam. The OSHA standard was based on data that indicated ethylene oxide presents a carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, reproductive, neurologic, and sensitization hazard to workers. The Health and Safety Authority (Chemical Agents Regulations) 2007 Code of Practice specifies an 8-hour TWA limit of 10 mg/m3 for ethylene oxide.
Solvents and Disinfectants:
Glutaraldehyde is used in health-care settings as a cold sterilant to clean heat sensitive
equipment. Glutaraldehyde is also used as a tissue fixative in histology and pathology labs and as a hardening agent in X-ray departments. Exposure to glutaraldehyde vapors can lead to irritation and burning of eyes, nose, and throat along with breathing difficulties and asthma-like symptoms. The Health and Safety Authority (Chemical Agents Regulations) 2007 Code of Practice specifies an STEL (15 minute reference period) limit of 0.2 mg/m3 for glutaraldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a chemical agent most commonly used in health-care facilities to fix and preserve tissue. In this application, formaldehyde is typically mixed with methanol to produce formalin solutions of various concentrations. Worker exposure to formaldehyde can occur in operating rooms, pathology and research labs, and morgues.
Exposures can also occur in dialysis units during disinfection procedures. Formaldehyde is an allergen and susceptible individuals can become sensitized leading to irritation and breathing difficulties. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) now classifies formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. The Health and Safety Authority (Chemical Agents Regulations) 2007 Code of Practice specifies an 8-hour TWA limit of 2.5 mg/m3 and an STEL (15 minute reference period) limit of 2.5 mg/m3 for formaldehyde.
For more information on sampling the above substances or to discuss your monitoring requirements, contact the Sales Team at EURO environmental services on 041 9845440.
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