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Evaluation of the ceiling levels of ortho-phthalaldehyde exposure among health care workers engaged in endoscope disinfection: A new methodology using video-exposure monitoring.
Yamamoto, Shinobu; Hachiya, Yuriko; Yuasa, Eri; Takeuchi, Akito; Ishidao, Toru; Mihara, Mitsuhisa; Terauchi, Yasuhiro; Ichiba, Masayoshi; Hori, Hajime.
Affiliation
  • Yamamoto S; Department of Environmental Measurement and Control, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
  • Hachiya Y; Department of Social Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
  • Yuasa E; Department of Occupational and Community Health Nursing, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
  • Takeuchi A; Osaka Occupational Health Service Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Ishidao T; Osaka Occupational Health Service Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Mihara M; Department of Environmental Measurement and Control, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
  • Terauchi Y; Japan High Soft Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Ichiba M; Riken Keiki Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Hori H; Department of Social Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
J Occup Health ; 62(1): e12139, 2020 Jan.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32713059
OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to develop a method for measuring the ceiling level of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) exposure and evaluate the ceiling levels of OPA exposure among health care workers who handle disinfectant solutions containing OPA for the disinfection of endoscopes. METHODS: The study consisted of a preliminary survey and main survey. In the preliminary survey, processes involving high-concentration exposure to OPA were identified by video-exposure monitoring (VEM). In the main survey, the ceiling levels of OPA exposure for high-concentration exposure processes identified from the results of the preliminary survey were determined using a measuring method combining sampling using a 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-silica cartridge and analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: In the preliminary survey, seven processes involving high-concentration exposure to OPA were identified by VEM. The duration of each process was short, lasting from 20 seconds to a few minutes. In the main survey, the OPA concentrations for the identified high-concentration exposure processes ranged from 1.18 to 4.49 ppb, which markedly exceeded the threshold limit value ceiling (TLV-C) of 0.1 ppb recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. CONCLUSIONS: The method for measuring the ceiling level of OPA exposure was established using VEM and the highly sensitive method of chemical analysis; and we successfully evaluated the ceiling levels of OPA exposure among health care workers engaged in endoscope disinfection. This approach can also be applied to other chemical substances with recommended TLV-Cs, and important information for reducing exposure can thus be obtained.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: O-Phthalaldehyde / Environmental Monitoring / Occupational Exposure / Health Personnel / Endoscopes / Disinfectants Type of study: Evaluation_studies Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: J Occup Health Journal subject: MEDICINA OCUPACIONAL Year: 2020 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Japón Country of publication: Australia

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: O-Phthalaldehyde / Environmental Monitoring / Occupational Exposure / Health Personnel / Endoscopes / Disinfectants Type of study: Evaluation_studies Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: J Occup Health Journal subject: MEDICINA OCUPACIONAL Year: 2020 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Japón Country of publication: Australia