Nitrous oxide occupational exposure in conscious sedation procedures in endoscopic ambulatories: a pilot retrospective observational study in an Italian hospital.

SUMMARY: Introduction. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is widely used to induce sedation also outside of operating rooms; there is a chance of workplace exposures for the operators engaged in the outpatient use of nitrous oxide. The aim of this research is to assess nitrous oxide exposure in gastroenterology outpatient settings. Methods. We performed an observational study marked by N2O environmental testing in a gastroenterology outpatient care; environmental research was supported by biological monitoring with urinary N2O analysis in exposed operators. The research was conducted both without and using a collective security device (NIKI mask). Results. The study was rolled out in 10 sessions of day shift procedures, totaling 4105 samples. The average N2O concentration in the environment was 27.58 (SD 1.76) and 449.59 (SD 35.29), respectively with and without NIKI Mask; the distribution of gases in the environment under investigation was not homogeneous (Anovatest P=0.001). Biological testing revealed a substantial rise in urinary concentration of 8.97 (p=0.001) between the start and the end of the shift, and the use of the NIKI-mask was effective (p=.003). Discussion. The exposure levels reported exceed the limits of 50 ppm (Italy operating rooms threshold value) as well as the value of 25 ppm (NIOSH threshold-value), indicating a significant issue in the outpatient use of N2O. Technical measures are needed to contain the occupational risk from N2O exposure outside of operating rooms; for the exposure results detected in this research, it is also evident that workers exposed to N2O must be subject to adequate health surveillance accounting for this occupational risk.

Alcohol Consumption in the Workplace: A Comparison between European Union Countries' Policies.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is an ever-growing phenomenon in the population, consumption data indicate that 5-20% of the European working population have serious problems related to alcohol. The use of alcohol constitutes a risk to the health and safety of workers as well as to the safety of the general population. The present work aims to address the problem of alcohol intake in occupational settings by comparatively analyzing alcohol consumption behavior within the 27 countries of the European Union. METHODS: The purpose of this research is to analyze the differences between the 27 countries of the European Union in the application of measures to assess and manage the risk of alcohol intake in occupational settings. RESULTS: An examination of the legislation and guidelines of the different countries reveals profound differences in the management of the problem of alcohol in the workplace. The discrepancy is very wide that it ranges from the complete absence of legislative restrictions on a national level in some countries to highly restrictive measures with severe sanctions in others. CONCLUSIONS: It would be appropriate-also for the purpose of ease of movement of workers within the European Community-to find shared management models useful for protecting the health and safety of workers and the general population.