WASTE ANESTHETIC GASES

Agent Name
WASTE ANESTHETIC GASES
Alternative Name
CLASS
Major Category
Other Uses
Synonyms
CLASSES; Anesthetics
Category
Waste Anesthetic Gases
Comments
Waste anesthetic gases include enflurane, fluroxene, halothane, methoxyflurane, and nitrous oxide. There is limited positive data and limited negative data that anesthetic gases cause reduced fertility and spontaneous abortions in humans and birth defects in animals. [ATSDR Case Studies # 29] Occupational asthma confirmed in one worker exposed to enflurane and three workers exposed to Sevoflurane/isoflurane; [Malo] See "Exposure to anesthetic gases and congenital anomalies in offspring of female registered nurses." [PMID 20607734] See "Precautionary Practices for Administering Anesthetic Gases: A Survey of Physician Anesthesiologists, Nurse Anesthetists and Anesthesiologist Assistants." [PMID 27542098] Enflurane, halothane, and nitrous oxide are in the list of "Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation" published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating a potential to cause narcosis in workers.
Biomedical References

Exposure Assessment

Adverse Effects

Reproductive Toxin
Yes

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: