title: [Preliminary assessment of the use of portable hydrogen peroxide detectors in a centralized cytotoxic preparation unit].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For 1 year, our unit has been equipped with portable H₂O₂ Dräger detectors contributing to protect the staff from a possible exposure to this odourless and toxic gas. This work shows the current available data about H₂O₂ toxicity, describes the organization of the implementation and the analysis of the values measured over 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data about H₂O₂ toxicity have been obtained through a literature review. The measured values are presented in instantaneous value and occupational exposure limit (OEL) over 8 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over six technicians, the average percentage, of detected values superior to zero reached 1.06% in August. The detected maximum instantaneous value reached 2.2 ppm in May. These isolated exposures have little incidence when related to the 8-h exposure with an occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 0.072 ppm over 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of this tool has allowed to highlight a technical problem of the sterilization airlock that could be resolved. This measuring device of H₂O₂ concentration in the air in real time allows to secure everyday working conditions and to alert the staff of a possible technical failure. However, literature data regarding chronic toxicity are limited and restrict the analysis of the measured values.
authors.affiliation: Institut de pharmacie, CHRU de Lille, rue Philippe-Marache, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinturaud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasseur
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Décaudin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Odou
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004285:Dogs; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D013242:Sterilization
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Drug preparation; Exposition professionnelle; Hydrogen peroxide; Lieu de travail; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Peroxyde d’hydrogène; Préparation de médicament; Santé au travail; Workplace