Concern regarding environmental health hazards for dental personnel chronically exposed to waste nitrous oxide (N2O) prompted this investigation. The influence on ambient N 2O levels of scavenging, operatory size, and N2O concentration delivered to the patient was evaluated during treatment of 36 pediatric dental patients. The results showed that scavenging significantly reduced ambient N2O levels measured at 50-56 cm from the patient's nose. Scavenged ambient N2O levels were also observed to decrease when N2O concentrations administered to the patient were reduced from 50 to 30%. This concentration effect was not observed in the non-scavenged groups. ANOVA showed that operatory size exerted a non-significant influence on ambient N2O. The data collected during routine treatment of pediatric dental patients demonstrated that the scavenging system tested significantly reduced waste N20 in the operator's breathing zone, nearly approximating the 25-ppm recommendation established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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3.
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4.
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5.
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6.
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7.
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8.
Cleaton-Jones, P.; Austin, J.C.; Moyes, D.G.; Shaw, R.; and Crichton, R. (1978): Nitrous Oxide Contamination in Dental Surgeries Using Relative Analgesia, Br J Anaesth50:1019-1024.
9.
Cohen, E.N.; Brown, B.W.; Wu, M.L.; Whitcher, C.E.; Brodsky, J.B.; Gift, H.C.; Greenfield, W.; Jones, T.W.; and Driscoll, E.J. (1980): Occupational Disease in Dentistry and Chronic Exposure to Trace Anesthetic Gases, J Am Dent Assoc101 :21-31.
10.
Donaldson, D. and Grabi, J. (1989): The Efficiency of Nitrous Oxide Scavenging Devices in Dental Offices, Can Dent Assoc J55 :541-543.
11.
Donaldson, D. and Orr, J. (1989): A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Nitrous Oxide Scavenging Devices, Can Dent Assoc J55 :535-537.
12.
Eger, E.I. (1985): Nitrous Oxide/N2O, New York : Elsevier, pp. 259-279.
13.
Gutmann, L. and Johnsen, D. (1981): Nitrous Oxide Induced Myeloneuropathy : Report of Cases, J Am Dent Assoc103:239-241.
14.
Hallonsten, A. (1982): Nitrous Oxide Scavenging in Dental Surgery: I. A Comparison of the Efficiency of Different Scavenging Devices, Swed Dent J6:203-213.
15.
Henry, R.J. and Jerrell, R.G. (1990): Ambient Nitrous Oxide Levels During Pediatric Sedations, Pediatr Dent12:87-91.
16.
Jacobs, D.E. and Middendorf, P.J. (1986): Control of Nitrous Oxide Exposures in Dental Operatories Using Local Exhaust Ventilation : a Pilot Study, Anesth Prog33:235-242.
17.
Jastak, J.T. and Greenfield, W. (1977): Trace Contamination of Anesthetic Gases-a Brief Review, J Am Dent Assoc95:758-762.
18.
Kugel, G.; Letelier, C.; Atallah, M.; and Zive, M. (1989a): Chronic Low Level Nitrous Oxide Exposure and Infertility, J Dent Res68:313, Abst. 1057.
19.
Kugel, G.; Norris, L.H.; and Zive, M.A. (1989b): Nitrous Oxide and Occupational Exposure: It's Time to Stop Laughing, Anesth Prog36:252-257.
20.
Middendorf, P.J.; Jacobs, D.E.; Smith, K.A.; and Mastro, D.M. (1986): Occupational Exposure to Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories, Anesth Prog33:91-97.
21.
Millard, R.I. and Corbett, T.H. (1974): Nitrous Oxide Concentrations in the Dental Operatory , J Oral Surg32:593-594.
22.
National Institute Of Occupational Safety And Health (1977): Criteria for a Recommended Standard, Occupational Exposure to Waste Anesthetic Gases and Vapors, Cincinnati, Ohio, DHEW Publ. No. 77-140, p. 3.
23.
Scheidt, M.J.; Stanford, H.G.; and Ayer, W.A. (1977): Measurement of Waste Gas Contamination During Nitrous Oxide Sedation in a Non-Ventilated Dental Operatory, Anesth Prog24:38-42.
24.
Sher, A.M.; Mallett, J.; and Cleaton-Jones, P.E. (1987): A Comparison of the Cyprane and Samson Nasal Mask Scavengers During Relative Analgesia, Br Dent J163:111-114.
25.
Ship, J.A. (1987): A Survey of Nitrous Oxide Levels in Dental Offices , Arch Environ Health42:310-314.
26.
Simon, J.F. and Vogelsberg, G.M. (1975): Use of Nitrous OxideOxygen Inhalation Sedation for Children. In: Behavior Management in Dentistry for Children, E. Wright, Ed., Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 178-196.
27.
Tannenbaum, T.N. and Goldberg, R.J. (1985): Exposure to Anesthetic Gases and Reproductive Outcome, J Occup Med27:659-668.
28.
Tonn, E.M. and Whitcher, C.E. (1980): Scavenging of Waste Nitrous Oxide in Pediatric Dental Offices, J Int Assoc Dent Child11 :41-46.
29.
Vieira, E.; Cleaton-Jones, P.E.; and Moyes, D. (1983): Effects of Intermittent 0.5% Nitrous Oxide/Air on the Fertility of Male Rats and the Post-natal Growth of Their Offspring , Anaesthesia38 :319-323.
30.
Whitcher, C.; Zimmerman, D.C.; and Piziali, R. (1978): Control of Occupational Exposure to Nitrous Oxide in the Oral Surgery Office, J Oral Surg36:431-440.
31.
Whitcher, C.E.; Zimmerman, D.C.; Tonn, E.M.; and Piziali, R.L. (1977): Control of Occupational Exposure to Nitrous Oxide in the Dental Operatory, J Am Dent Assoc95:763-776.
