Simulated exposure of hospital emergency personnel to solvent vapors and respirable dust during decontamination of chemically exposed patients.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the breathing-zone level of organic solvents and respirable particulates in a simulated hospital patient decontamination.


METHODS
An adult-sized, clothed plastic mannequin was contaminated with a solvent or particulate, then decontaminated. Rescuers were exposed to acetone, p-xylene, iron oxide, or zinc oxide during decontamination. We performed breathing-zone air sampling on the two rescuers. Five trials were run with each chemical.


METHODS
Two physicians performed the decontamination.


RESULTS
Measured breathing-zone concentrations for the chemicals tested were significantly lower than their respective short-term breathing-zone limits (P = .042, .043, .001, and .001 for acetone, p-xylene, iron, and zinc oxide, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The chemicals tested during simulated hospital decontamination did not pose a respiratory health risk to rescuers. This model may be useful in the extrapolation of breathing-zone exposure to more toxic chemicals. Because ours are preliminary data, the use of respiratory protective equipment during decontamination must be recommended.
Schultz
M
M
Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Cisek
J
J
Wabeke
R
R
D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004391:Dust; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012997:Solvents
D004391:Dust; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D012997:Solvents