Occupational Exposure to Volatile AnaestheticsEpidemiology and Approaches to Reducing the Problem

Long term occupational exposure to trace concentrations of volatile anaesthetics is thought to have adverse effects on the health of exposed personnel. In contrast with halothane — an agent likely to cause mutagenic effects and proven to be teratogenic — isoflurane and enflurane have not so far been proved to have adverse effects on the health of personnel exposed long term. Data on the newer agents sevoflurane and desflurane are limited. Since possible health hazards from long term exposure to inhalational anaesthetics cannot yet be definitively excluded, many Western countries have established limits for exposure. These usually range from 2 to 10 ppm as a time-weighted average over the time of exposure.