A chemical adsorption system for the sampling of gaseous organic pollutants in operating theatre atmospheres.
The development of an air sampler and its use in measuring organic pollutants in operating theatre atmospheres are described. Air was sampled continuously during an operating session and the results obtained represent the average pollution at the sample site during that session. The technique involved the chemical adsorption of organic vapours to polymer beads and pollutants thus trapped could be stored for several days before thermal desorption and analysis by gas chromatography. The three most abundant organic pollutants were ethanol, propan-2-ol (isopropanol) and halothane.
D000327:Adsorption; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D008722:Methods; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000592:standards*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational