Development and Evaluation of Active and Passive Sampling Methods to Improve Characterization of Worker Dose and Exposure to Isoflurane Anesthetic
Abstract
Isoflurane is an occupational hazard with over 250,000 workers exposed in the United States alone. Conventional exposure assessment challenges include cumbersome and expensive air pumps, or passive samplers that can require lengthy sampling times.Third party analysis can delay results, and solvent desorption can decrease analytical sensitivity. Additionally, air sampling estimates absorbed dose based solely on the inhalational route of exposure. This research proposed to address these challenges by 1) assessing the ability of the HAPSITE(registered trademark) ER portable gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer to quantify isoflurane in humidified air as a surrogate for biological monitoring of exhaled breath, and 2) validating two types of thermal desorption tubes for passive sampling of isoflurane. The INFICON HAPSITE(registered trademark) Extended Range gas chromatography-mass spectrometer hand-held probe and thermal desorption sampling system were assessed for their ability to quantify isoflurane in surrogate exhaled breath with an accuracy of +-25 percent. The HAPSITE(registered trademark) hand-held probe offered the most convenient sampling and greatest overall accuracy, displaying an average error of 8 percent across the tested concentration range when calibrated with high humidity standards. Performance of Sulficarb, Carbograph 5TD, and Carbotrap 349 thermal desorption tubes with the HAPSITE(registered trademark) ER was further investigated by assessing desorption flow rate, desorption efficiency, breakthrough, and ability to achieve the target desorption temperature. Desorption temperature varied significantly by tube casing type (glass vs.steel) and sorbent type, and no tube achieved the target temperature of 315 deg C. This resulted in poor desorption efficiency of Sulficarb (69 71 percent). Carbotrap 349 andCarbograph 5TD achieved good desorption efficiency (98 100 percent).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1063879
Entities
People
- Edward A. Benchoff
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences