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Evaluation of Nitrous Oxide Exposure at a Dental Center
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2017/11/01
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Source: Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2016-0189-3296, 2017 Nov; :1-23
[PDF-2.45 MB]
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Description:The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a dental center manager concerned about exposures to nitrous oxide (N2O) during dental procedures. The center staff included dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental residents, and dentists and nonclinical personnel. We evaluated employee exposures to N2O and observed workplace processes and practices and workplace conditions. We asked employees about their work history, N2O exposure, personal protective equipment, work-related symptoms, and health and safety concerns. We reviewed employee N2O dosimetry data and dental center incident reports. We found personal exposures occasionally exceeded occupational exposure limits. The exposures were likely from patient mouth-breathing during dental procedures and poorly fitting nasal scavenging masks. In past air sampling, the dental center found employee overexposures to N2O; they identified mouth-breathing and crying by pediatric patients as contributing factors. Employees followed dental industry best practices to reduce N2O exposure, including the use of scavenging equipment, which has been shown to reduce employee exposure. The ventilation systems were last tested and balanced in 2009 and may not have been supplying enough outdoor air. Employees reported symptoms that could be related to N2O exposure. We recommended testing and balancing the ventilation systems; training employees on proper work practices, controls, and hazards associated with N2O; and providing patients with various sizes of nasal scavenging masks.
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Pages in Document:30 pdf pages
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Contributor:Booher, Donald E.;Galloway, Ellen;Moore, Kevin;Watts, Shawna;
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NIOSHTIC Number:20050681
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NTIS Accession Number:PB2018-100583
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Citation:NIOSH [2017]. Evaluation of nitrous oxide exposure at a dental center. By Beaucham;C, Musolin K. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety;and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2016-0189-3296,;
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Federal Fiscal Year:2018
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Peer Reviewed:False
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Resource Number:HHE-2016-0189-3296
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