Anesthetic gases such as halogenated gases used independently or in conjunction with
nitrous oxide are utilized to sedate animals prior to surgery. Acute and chronic exposure
to anesthetic gas poses a risk to human health; therefore, appropriate controls must be
utilized to protect the health of employees handling anesthetic gases. Engineering
controls and work practice controls were developed at the University of Pittsburgh
Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) to protect workers from exposure to levels of
waste anesthetic gases (WAG) that exceed the recommended exposure limit (REL).
Additionally, a decontamination strategy for monitoring badges was developed so that the
monitoring badges used in BSL-3 facilities to detect and quantify WAG exposure could be
safely analyzed outside of the BSL-3.
References
1.
Assay Technology, Inc. (2009). Technical insert #574: ChemDisk monitor for halogenated
anesthetic gases.Livermore, CA: Assay Technology,
Inc.
2.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). (1998). Title 29—Occupational Safety and Health Standards;
Part 1910.134:. Personal Protective Equipment—Respiratory Protection.Washington, DC: Occupational Safety &
Health Administration. Available at: www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=standards. Accessed online 2011.
3.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). (2008a). Title 42—Public Health; Part 73:. Select agents and toxins.Washington, DC: Department of Health and
Human Services. Final.
4.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). (2008b). Title 7—Animals and Animal Products; Part
331:. Possession, use, and transfer of biological agents and toxins.Washington, DC: Department of
Agriculture. Final.
5.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). (2008c). Title 9—Animals and Animal Products; Part
121:. Possession, use, and transfer of select agents and toxins.Washington, DC: Department of
Agriculture. Final.
6.
CooperD.
M. & ErredeD.
C. & StreifelA. (1998). Assessment of occupational exposure to isoflurane
administered in an anesthetic chamber within a horizontal laminar flow clean
bench. Contemporary Topics in Lab Animal Science, 37, 64–67.
7.
DunsmoreT., LAT, Veterinary Technician IV, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources,
Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, personal communication.
8.
GardnerR.
J. & HamptonJ. & CaustonJ.
S. (1991). Inhalation
anesthetics—Exposure and control during veterinary surgery. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 35, 377–388.
9.
HeckertR. A., BestM., JordanL. T., DulacG. C. & EddingtonD.
L. & SterrittW.
G. (1997). Efficacy of
vaporized hydrogen peroxide against exotic animal viruses. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 63, 3916–3918.
KokuboM. & InoueT. & AkersJ. (1998). Resistance of common environmental spores of the
genus Bacillus to vapor hydrogen peroxide. PDA Journal of
Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 52, 228–230.
12.
KrauseJ. & McDonnellG. & RiedeselH. (2001). Biodecontamination of animal rooms and
heat-sensitive equipment with vaporized hydrogen peroxide. Contemporary Topics in Lab Animal Science, 40, 18–21.
13.
McDonnellG.
E. (2007). Antisepsis,
disinfection, and sterilization: Types, action, and resistance.Herndon, VA: ASM
Press.
14.
National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH). (1977). Criteria for a
recommended standard: Occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases and
vapors. NIOSH Publication No. 77–140. Cincinnati, Ohio.
National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID). (2003a). Resources for
researchers: Current national biocontainment laboratories (NBL) and regional
biocontainment laboratories (RBL). Available at: www.niaid.nih.gov/LabsAndResources/resources/dmid/NBL_RBL/Pages/site.aspx. Accessed online 2010.
17.
National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID). (2003b). NIAID funds
construction of biosafety laboratories. Press release September 30, 2003. Available at: www.nih.gov/news/pr/sep2003/niaid-30.htm. Accessed online 2010.
18.
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).
Standard 49–2009. (2009). Biosafety cabinetry: Design,
construction, performance, and field certification.Ann Arbor, MI: NSF.
19.
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA). (2000). Anesthetic gases:
Guidelines for workplace exposures. Available at: www.osha.gov/dts/osta/anestheticgases/index.html. Accessed online 2011.
20.
PokrywkaF., CIH, Industrial Hygienist, Department of Environmental Health and
Safety, University of Pittsburgh, personal
communication.
21.
RogersJ. V., SabourinC. L. K., ChoiY. W., RichterW. R., RudnickiD. C. & RiggsK.
B. (2005).
Decontamination assessment of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus subtilis, and
Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores on indoor surfaces using a hydrogen peroxide gas
generator. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 99, 739–748.
22.
SmithJ.
C. & BolonB. (2006). Isoflurane leakage from non-rebreathing rodent
anaesthesia circuits: Comparison of emissions from conventional and modified
ports. Lab Animals, 40, 200–209.
23.
StimpfelT.
M. & GersheyE.
L. (1991). Selecting
anesthetic agents for human safety and animal recovery surgery. FASEB Journal, 5, 2099–2104.
