Medical services: nitrous oxide pollution in operating theatres.
The efficiency of facilities available for anaesthetic gas scavenging in East Anglian hospitals has been assessed using infrared spectrophotometry. Simple scavenging systems proved to be very effective and reduced the ambient nitrous oxide levels by a factor of ten. Sources of pollution outside of the influence of a scavenging system were due to damaged breathing systems, leaking ventilators and the anaesthetic technique. High levels could be further aggravated by poor maintenance of air conditioning equipment.
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000592:standards*