The occupational exposure of midwives to nitrous oxide - a comparison between two labour suites.
The study of midwives' occupational exposure to nitrous oxide in a poorly ventilated maternity unit in 1992 was instrumental in ensuring that the replacement building had Department of Health approved ventilation. We have repeated the study in the new unit. There was a trend for 8-hour time weighted average exposure to nitrous oxide to be lower in the new building. This difference was significant amongst those midwives who spent a greater time looking after women using Entonox and thus were more at risk from its detrimental effects. We discuss these findings and the ramifications for other maternity units under the new COSHH regulations.
Department of Anaesthesia, City Hospital Nottingham, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
C
C
Newton
J
J
Fitz-Henry
D
D
Bogod