[Exposure of hospital personnel to sevoflurane]

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure to volatile anaesthetics cannot be completely avoided even in modern operating theatres. In 1997, the staff exposure during balanced anaesthesia in our hospital was low (sevoflurane 0.49 ppm; N(2)O 11.5 ppm). In 1999, N(2)O was completely omitted at our hospital, therefore, exposure to volatile anaesthetics, namely sevoflurane, might have increased.

Methods: Environmental exposure was measured by photoacoustic infrared spectrometry. To determine the personal exposure and to compare it with environmental exposure, 14 anaesthetists wore diffusion samplers near their breathing zones for 1 week.

Results: The median environmental concentration of sevoflurane was between 0.09 and 0.21 ppm in central operating theatres and between 0 and 24.8 ppm in intervention rooms. The median personal concentration was 0.19 ppm.

Conclusion: The occupational exposure to volatile anaesthetics is not higher using sevoflurane alone compared to the combination of sevoflurane and N(2)O. In addition, the data acquired from environmental and personal measurements showed similar results.