Occupational disease among operating room personnel: A national study

Abstract

A national study of occupational disease among operating room personnel was conducted by mailing questionnaires to 49,585 exposed operating room personnel in 4 professional societies and to 23,911 unexposed individuals in 2 professional societies serving as a comparison group. The results indicate that female members in the operating room exposed group were subject to increased risks of spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities in their children, cancer, and hepatic and renal disease. This increased risk of congenital abnormalities was also present among the unexposed wives of male operating room personnel. No increase in cancer was found among the exposed males, but an increased incidence of hepatic disease similar to that in the female was found. Although the present study does not establish a cause effect relationship between the increases in these diseases and exposure to the waste anesthetic gases in the operating room, considerable evidence in the experimental animal suggests such a relationship. It is therefore reasonable to assume that this relationship may also apply to the clinical situation. In consideration of the potential health hazards involved, a strong recommendation is made for the venting of waste anesthetic gases in all anesthetizing locations.