title: Serum levels of methyl methacrylate following inhalational exposure to polymethylmethacrylate bone cement.
abstract: Teratogenic effects of polymethylmethacrylate cement at levels used during routine orthopaedic procedures have never been reported, however the hypothetical risk remains a major concern among female surgeons. Our aim was to determine if methyl methacrylate is detectible in the serum during routine cement exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy volunteers were exposed during the mixing of polymethylmethacrylate cement in a simulated operating room environment. Forty serum samples were obtained during the expected peak inhalational exposure and levels of methyl methacrylate were assessed utilizing headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methyl methacrylate was not detected in any of the forty experimental specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a detection level of 0.5 ppm, methyl methacrylate is undetectable in the serum during routine mixing of polymethylmethacrylate cement.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute; Medical Center East, Nashville, TN 37232-8774, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Homlar
authors.forename: Meredith H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Erin H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Seeley
authors.forename: Ginger E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D020366:Methylmethacrylate / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate