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Letters to the Editor • Rev. Bras. Anestesiol. 68 (2) • Mar-Apr 2018 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjane.2017.09.003   copy

Occupational hazards due to exposure to waste anesthetic gases

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The publication on “Occupational hazards due to exposure to waste anesthetic gases” is very interesting.11 Lucio LMC, Braz MG, do Nascimento Junior P, et al. Occupational hazards, DNA damage, and oxidative stress on exposure to waste anesthetic gases. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjan.2017.05.001. pii:S0034-7094(16)30325-7 [Epubahead of print].
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjan.2017.05... Lucio LMC, Braz et al. noted that “The occupational hazards related to WAGs including genotoxicity, mutagenicity and oxidative stress, stand as a public health issue and must be acknowledged by exposed personnel and responsible authorities, especially in developing countries. Thus, it is urgent to stablish maximum safe limits of concentration of WAGs in ORs and educational practices and protocols for exposed professionals.”11 Lucio LMC, Braz MG, do Nascimento Junior P, et al. Occupational hazards, DNA damage, and oxidative stress on exposure to waste anesthetic gases. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjan.2017.05.001. pii:S0034-7094(16)30325-7 [Epubahead of print].
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjan.2017.05... In fact, the occupational health of medical personnel is usually forgotten. Lack of concern and no risk monitoring is common.

In our experience from Thailand, it is approved that exposure to medical waste in hospital is a cause of carcinogenicity to medical personnel.22 Yasri S, Wiwanitkit V. Formaldehyde level in hospital waste water and risk of cancer. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2015;8:223. The important issue is how to implement a preventive measure for medical personnel. For one who works in anesthesiology, risk reduction by protective tool is needed and there is a requirement for regular monitoring for the health problem. Nevertheless, the monitoring might be complex since one has exposure to both environmental and occupational hazards. Minimizing of exposure is needed33 Souza KM, Braz LG, Nogueira FR, et al. Occupational exposure to anesthetics leads to genomic instability, cytotoxicity and proliferative changes. Mutat Res. 2016;791–792:42-8. and it is an actual challenge in the situation of high workload for anesthesiologist at present.

References

  • 1
    Lucio LMC, Braz MG, do Nascimento Junior P, et al. Occupational hazards, DNA damage, and oxidative stress on exposure to waste anesthetic gases. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjan.2017.05.001 pii:S0034-7094(16)30325-7 [Epubahead of print].
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjan.2017.05.001
  • 2
    Yasri S, Wiwanitkit V. Formaldehyde level in hospital waste water and risk of cancer. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2015;8:223.
  • 3
    Souza KM, Braz LG, Nogueira FR, et al. Occupational exposure to anesthetics leads to genomic instability, cytotoxicity and proliferative changes. Mutat Res. 2016;791–792:42-8.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Mar-Apr 2018
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