A Long-Term Study of the Development of N2O Controls at a Pediatric Dental Facility

Details

• Personal Author:
  Crouch, Keith G. ; Johnston, Ova E. ; McGlothlin, James D.
• Description:
  A review is given of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) efforts to control N2O at a pediatric dental operatory from 1978 to the present. Measurements of N2O concentrations were made on four occasions before and after installation of different controls, using an infrared analyzer. Air velocity and volumetric flow measurements also were taken. Video imaging was done in some cases simultaneously with real-time N2O measurements to correlate work practices with exposure data. An infrared imaging system was used to identify sources of N2O. Critical components of resulting recommendations for control include monitoring of N2O concentrations; use of engineering controls, such as a scavenging mask, an effective dilution ventilation system, and auxiliary exhaust; good work practices; maintenance of the equipment; and worker education. Data presented strongly supports the hypothesis that better implementation of controls leads to reduction of N2O exposures. N2O concentrations were reduced by a factor of 61 from their initial levels. The current NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 25 ppm TWA during the time of N2O administration appears to be achievable. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Anesthesia Dental Equipment Dental Offices Engineering Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Anesthetics Author Keywords: Dentist Dental Materials Dentistry Dentists Engineering Controls Exposure Control Exposure Levels Exposure Limits Exposure Methods NIOSH Nitrous Oxide Nitrous Oxides Pediatric Ventilation Systems

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• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20020647
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 2000 Sep/Oct; 61(5):753-756
• Contact Point Address:
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway--R5, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
• CAS Registry Number:
  Nitrous oxide (CAS RN 10024-97-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2eb66e38a36cc842b8053338eb6aa1f27da8c4f65cdb5b49592bf54b192a25217dd41434c90624ff5c19119f0086555615a2944875dd62c4f0a6fcb86d977a5c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198331/cdc_198331_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 309.07 KB ]