Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals.

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Research Abstract Details 

Research Abstract Table of Contents

Jump to the:

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Abstract Text:

OBJECTIVE: This study presents occupational peak and average exposures to nitrous oxide in delivery suites in six Swedish hospitals and evaluates different scavenging techniques. METHODS: Exposure measurements based on four consecutive 2-h samples (n = 111) were used to calculate 8-h time-weighted averages (8-h TWAs) for 36 midwives and assistant midwives. Short-term (15 min) samples to study peak exposure were also included in the monitoring program. Diffusive samplers were used for monitoring, and analyzed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effect on exposure of different types of scavenging systems was studied by mixed model analysis. RESULTS: The 8-h TWA (n = 36) nitrous oxide concentrations varied between 2.5 and 260 mg/m(3), and the geometric means for all the 8-h TWAs was 17 mg/m(3) for the midwives and 42 mg/m(3) for the assistant midwives. Around 25% of all the 8-h TWAs exceeded the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV-TWA) of 90 mg/m(3) (50 ppm). For the short-term samples (n = 29) the nitrous oxide levels varied between 19 and 4,200 mg/m(3), and 14% exceeded the Swedish occupational exposure ceiling limit value of 900 mg/m(3). The 8-h TWAs were four times higher when the non-ventilated and ventilated simple masks were compared to the double mask (P = 0.02). This trend, although not statistically significant, was also seen for the short-term samples. CONCLUSION: A diffusive sampling method and a GC-MS analytical technique was used for long- and short-term sampling of nitrous oxide. A large number of TWAs exceeded the ACGIH-TLV. Mask connected to scavenging systems significantly reduced the exposures. Furthermore, using a forced general air ventilation system in addition to improved work and delivery routines for the staff and the mother-to-be substantially improved the air quality in the delivery suites.

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Publishing Authors By Initials

For similar abstracts research abstracts see: abstracts research

PUBMED ID PMID:

MEDLINE DATE:

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Journal Article

Journal: International archives of occupational and environ

VOLUME: 81

Page Numbers: 829-36

Journal Abbreviation:

ISSN: 0340-0131

DAY: 20

MONTH: 10

YEAR: 2007

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Information

Number of References:

LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 7512134

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS:

MESH TERMS:

Chemical & Substance for Abstract: Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals. Information

Substance Name:

Registry Number:

Grant and Affiliation Information for Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals.

AFFILIATION: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Orebro University Hospital, 701 85, Orebro, Sweden, hakan.westberg@orebroll.se.

Country: Germany

AGENCY:

GRANT:

ACRONYM:

MEDLINETA: Int Arch Occup Environ Health

REFSOURCE:

DATABASENAME:

ACCESSION NUMBER:

Number Hits: 0

Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals Related Publications

• Bacterial contamination of cotton and cotton dust and effects on the lung.
• Culture of tubercle bacilli from specimens of gastric juice.
• Daily physical-rest activities in relation to nutritional state, metabolism, and quality of life in cancer patients with progressive cachexia.
• Endotoxin levels in farming: absence of symptoms despite high exposure levels.
• Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals.
• Fractures around the neck of the femur.
• Growth associated proteins in tumor cells and stroma related to disease progression of colon cancer accounting for tumor tissue PGE2 content.
• Initiation factors for translation of proteins in the rectus abdominis muscle from patients on overnight standard parenteral nutrition before surgery.
• Interactions of cytokines in the host.
• Internal fixation of hip fractures with a new lag screw.
• Isolation of radiopure plasma and hepatic albumin in acute phase conditions.
• Nutritional problems in trauma.
• Preoperative treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) increases tumor tissue infiltration of seemingly activated immune cells in colorectal cancer.
• Survival and erythropoietin receptor protein in tumours from patients randomly treated with rhEPO for palliative care.
• The effect of DFP on respiration, blood pressure and muscular function in the rabbit.
• The mechanism of the vasodilator effect of adrenaline. I. Effect on skeletal muscle vessels.
• [Not Available.]
• [Not Available.]