Exposure to volatile organic compounds in healthcare settings.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To identify and summarise volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure profiles of healthcare occupations.

Methods

Personal (n=143) and mobile area (n=207) evacuated canisters were collected and analysed by a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer to assess exposures to 14 VOCs among 14 healthcare occupations in five hospitals. Participants were volunteers identified by their supervisors. Summary statistics were calculated by occupation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the 14 analyte inputs to five orthogonal factors and identify occupations that were associated with these factors. Linear regressions were used to assess the association between personal and mobile area samples.

Results

Exposure profiles differed among occupations; ethanol had

SUBMITTER: LeBouf RF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4591534 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature