Fujishiro K, Mori K, Inoue N
Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
J UOEH. 1991 Sep 1;13(3):257-60. doi: 10.7888/juoeh.13.257.
The health and environmental problems of ethylene oxide gas sterilization in a hospital are reported. Eight nurses who had been engaged in the gas sterilization, sometimes operated the auto-sterilizer in an inadequate manner; they exposed more than several hundred ppm of ethylene oxide once or twice a week. The main acute effects on these nurses after massive exposure were headaches, general fatigue and irritation of the eyes and throat. But no signs of polyneuropathy were seen. This survey suggests that there is a great risk of ethylene oxide poisoning while sterilizing instruments in a hospital.
报告了某医院环氧乙烷气体灭菌的健康和环境问题。八名从事气体灭菌工作的护士，有时操作自动灭菌器的方式不当；她们每周会有一两次暴露于超过几百ppm的环氧乙烷环境中。大量接触后，这些护士主要的急性反应是头痛、全身乏力以及眼睛和喉咙受到刺激。但未观察到多发性神经病变的迹象。这项调查表明，医院在进行器械灭菌时存在环氧乙烷中毒的巨大风险。
