[Environmental monitoring of occupational exposure to glutaraldehyde at a hospital].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the air pollution in operating theatres of a Sicily Hospital produced by 2% alkaline solutions of glutaraldehyde, which is used to disinfect flexible endoscopy units, filling tanks and cleaning surfaces. Personnel reported subjective symptoms as: headache, dizziness, anxiety, drowsiness on the job, loss of attention, irritation of the skin and respiratory tract.


METHODS
Environmental valuation of glutaraldehyde was made by infrared photoacustic spectroscopy.


RESULTS
The final results is not very comforting infact we found value of glutaraldehyde which exceeded the upper limit value (0.05 ppm) due to behavioral rules, to not well ventilated workplaces and to not automated washing units.
Proietti
L
L
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Patologie Sistemiche, Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro Università di Catania.
Longo
B
B
Duscio
S
S
Sandonà
P B
PB
Duscio
D
D
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005976:Glutaral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital
D005976:Glutaral