Surgical Smoke Control with Local Exhaust Ventilation: Experimental Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bowers J ; Bruns D ; Harper M ; Kashon M ; LeBouf, Ryan F. ; Lee T ; Schwegler-Berry D ; Soo J-C
• Description:
  This experimental study aimed to evaluate airborne particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from surgical smoke when a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system is in place. Surgical smoke was generated from human tissue in an unoccupied operating room using an electrocautery surgical device for 15 minutes with three different test settings; 1) without LEV control, 2) control with a wall irrigation suction unit with an in-line ultra-low penetration air filter and 3) control with a smoke evacuation system. Flow rate of LEVs was approximately 35 L/min and suction was maintained within 5 cm of electrocautery interaction site. A total of 6 experiments were conducted. Particle number and mass concentrations were measured using direct reading instruments including a condensation particle counter (CPC), a light-scattering laser photometer (DustTrak DRX), a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) and a viable particle counter. Selected VOCs were collected using evacuated canisters using grab, personal and area sampling techniques. The largest average particle and VOCs concentrations were found in the absence of LEV control followed by LEV controls. Average ratios of LEV controls to without LEV control ranged 0.24-0.33 (CPC), 0.28-0.39 (SMPS), 0.14-0.31 (DustTrak DRX), 0.26-0.55 (APS). Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol were dominant in the canister samples. Acetaldehyde, acetone, acetonitrile, benzene, hexane, styrene and toluene were detected but at lower concentrations (<500 ug/m3) and concentrations of the VOCs were much less than the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure limit values. Utilization of the LEVs for surgical smoke control can significantly reduce but not completely eliminate airborne particles and VOCs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Health Personnel Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particulates Author Keywords: Surgical Smoke Electrocautery Exhaust Ventilation Health Care Workers Healthcare Workers Local Exhaust Ventilation Operating Rooms Particle Sizers Smoke Control Surgery VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  341-350
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050761
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2018 Apr; 15(4):341-350
• Contact Point Address:
  Taekhee Lee, Exposure Assessment Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
• Email:
  fwc8@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c42028770b1953a279b4baa3ea5701d6c7c4d57b90c7885fdf72f452353d5f17c7a7c22c412cf1611ed274eebe02aa5fed248218b2c9b91b0668914391985d5c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210984/cdc_210984_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.36 MB ]