Waste anesthetic gas and vapor exposures in veterinary hospitals and clinics

Abstract

A survey of veterinary hospitals and clinics was conducted to determine the extent of usage of inhalation anesthetics and measure exposures of veterinarians and their assistants to waste anesthetic gases and vapors. A questionnaire survey indicated 80.8 percent of practices in the study area used inhalation of anesthetics, with a wide range noted between types of practices. Exposures to waste anesthetics were less in veterinary hospitals than reported in human hospitals. Mean methoxyflurane concentrations were 1.9 ppm and 1.7 ppm in breathing zones of small animal veterinarians and animal technicians, respectively. Waste methoxyflurane concentrations were significantly affected by size of patient, type of breathing system, and use of scavenging systems. Dilution ventilation had no significant effect on breathing zone concentrations of waste methoxyflurane.