Environmental and biological measurements of isoflurane and sevoflurane in operating room personnel

• Published in: International archives of occupational and environmental health 2018-04, Vol.91 (3), p.349-359
• Main Authors: Jafari, Abbas, Bargeshadi, Rogaieh, Jafari, Fatemeh, Mohebbi, Iraj, Hajaghazadeh, Mohammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air monitoring; Air sampling; Biomarkers; Breathing; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Health; Environmental monitoring; Exhaust gases; Exposure; Exposure limits; Gas chromatography; Isoflurane; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Personnel; Rehabilitation; Respiration; Sevoflurane; Urine; Working conditions; Working hours
• ISSN: 0340-0131; 1432-1246
• DOI: 10.1007/s00420-017-1287-y

Purpose The present study aimed to compare the concentration of isoflurane and sevoflurane in the individual’s breathing zone and ambient air of operating rooms (ORs), to investigate the correlation between breathing zone levels and urinary concentrations, and to evaluate the ORs pollution in the different working hours and weeks. Methods Environmental and biological concentrations of isoflurane and sevoflurane were evaluated at 9ORs. Air samples were collected by active sampling method and urine samples were collected from each subject at the end of the work shift. All samples were analyzed using gas chromatography. Results The geometric mean ± GSD concentration of isoflurane and sevoflurane in breathing zone air were 1.41 ± 2.27 and 0.005 ± 1.74 ppm, respectively, while in post-shift urine were 2.42 ± 2.86 and 0.006 ± 3.83 µg/l urine , respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the urinary and environmental concentration of isoflurane ( r 2  = 0.724, P