Anesthetic pollution and waste anesthetic gas scavenging.

ABSTRACT

The significance of chronic exposure to anesthetic pollution for veterinarians and their associates is not well defined, but one cannot ignore the evidence that a potential occupational health hazard exists. Installation of a scavenging system can reduce anesthetic pollution and personnel exposure to waste gases significantly. However, it is important to realize that these systems are not a replacement for safe anesthetic practices and are only effective when used correctly and maintained properly.