[Occupational exposure to glutaraldehyde during its use in chemical disinfection of endoscopes].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the air pollution experimentally produced by different solutions of glutaraldehyde due to the activity of chemical disinfection in a flexible endoscopy unit.


METHODS
The glutaraldehyde environment concentrations due to the use of 3 solutions (2% solution and its 1:5 and 1:20 dilutions) were measured by liquid chromatography after sampling on specific cartridges and by fotoacoustic method.


RESULTS
Only after the use of the most concentrated solution it was possible to detect glutaraldehyde in the environment air, with values between 0.2 and 0.3 mg/m3 and during specific activities such as after shaking the disinfecting solutions.


CONCLUSIONS
When the usual preventive recommendations are respected, the use of 1:5 and 1:20 solution of 2% glutaraldehyde products does not produce air concentrations of the aldehyde exceeding the current, even restrictive, limits proposed by industrial hygienists.
Apostoli
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D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D019723:Endoscopes; D005976:Glutaral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D012996:Solutions
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004202:Disinfectants; D012996:Solutions; D005976:Glutaral