Control of Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories

Details

• Personal Author:
  Crouch, Keith G. ; McGlothlin, James D. ; Mickelsen, Ronald L.
• Description:
  Commercially available scavenging systems for the control of nitrous- oxide (10024972) in dental operatories were evaluated in the field and in the laboratory. The field study sites included two pediatric dental facilities, an oral surgical clinic, and a dental clinic for the developmentally disabled. Sampling methods employed to gather data included personal and area sampling, real time nitrous-oxide sampling, video recording and documentation of work practices and infrared thermography. None of the scavenging systems were found to be adequate to control nitrous-oxide exposures. Tests were conducted in the laboratory and the field to evaluate two new local exhaust systems intended to control patient mouth emissions of nitrous-oxide. Face mask leakage was the primary cause of emissions. The use of exhaust systems placed on the chin or chest, or in the mouth captured mouth emissions. The authors conclude that it is possible to control nitrous-oxide levels to the NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 25 parts per million or lower when engineering controls; proper nitrous-oxide equipment maintenance; good work practices; and effective local, auxiliary and general ventilation controls are in place. The authors recommend that the use of nitrous-oxide be reduced, and that scavenging systems, ventilation, work practices, and equipment maintenance be used to control exposures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Anesthesia Dental Offices Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Health Personnel Nitrogen Oxides Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Air-quality-monitoring Air-sampling Anesthetics Control-technology Dentistry Health-care-personnel NIOSH-Author Nitrogen-oxides Toxic-gases Ventilation-systems
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB94129
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study ; Standards
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-120
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00223305
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB95-170361
• Citation:
  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, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-129, (ECTB 166-04), 1994 Sep; :1-120
• CAS Registry Number:
  Nitrous oxide (CAS RN 10024-97-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7b4ca5ecddfba29587c2bd8b758884f3f4df4aa80781ebda02f1e5b3f6e3b72b744410cc1e914d114343531c692e2d04058841d0326c50786ee37db467d3611e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/209660/cdc_209660_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.11 MB ]