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Med. Pr. 2006;57(6):557-566

Assessment of health risk of sevoflurane and isoflurane exposure among surgical staff: A problem for employers

Ocena ryzyka związanego z narażeniem personelu medycznego na działanie sewofluranu i izofluranu, wziewnych środków anestetycznyc

Małgorzata Kupczewska-Dobecka, Renata Soćko Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

Abstract

Sevoflurane and isoflurane are polyfluorinated anesthetics used during surgical treatment of both adults and children. They are usually applied as mixtures with oxygen or dinitrogen monoxide. An assessment of health risk of exposure to these inhalant anesthetics poses a serious problem for employers, mostly due to the fact that maximum admissible concentrations (MAC) for these compounds have not been established. Consequently, there is no obligation to measure their air concentration in the workplace. However, the employer is responsible for determining whether or not a given hazardous agent is present in the work environment. The setting of MAC values for sevoflurane and isoflurane has recently been considered by the Expert Group for Chemical Hazards that proposed to accept 55 mg/m³ (7 ppm) and 32 mg/m³ (4 ppm), respectively as MAC values in assessing workplace hazards. These exposure levels should protect the surgical staff from adverse neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, and irritant effects.

Key words

anesthetic gases, isoflurane, sevoflurane, MAC value, STEL value