Evaluation of a passive dosimeter for collection of 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane and 2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether in hospital operating rooms

Abstract

Operationally, passive dosimeters are ideally suited for monitoring [operating room personnel exposure to] organic vapors in hospital operating rooms as they are compact, lightweight and do not require tubing or pumps. A recently developed passive diffusion sampler was used to collect 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1,-trifluoroethane (halothane) and 2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether (enflurane) in standard air mixtures over the range of 0.2-10 ppm. Exposures to known concentrations were conducted for various lengths of time. A side-by-side comparison of charcoal tubes (CT) and passive dosimeter collection characteristics were made on known air mixtures and samples collected in operating rooms. The material adsorbed on charcoal from dosimeters and CT was desorbed with CS2 and quantified using GLC. The overall efficiency of the dosimeters along with quality control data are presented.