Solvent vapours in incubators: a source of exposure among neonates?

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State: Public
Version: Author's accepted manuscript
Serval ID
serval:BIB_AB2A246E6D14
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Solvent vapours in incubators: a source of exposure among neonates?
Journal
Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft
Author(s)
Vernez David, Paccaud Catherine, Berode Michèle, Hopf Nancy, Charrière Nicole, Laubscher Bernard
ISSN
0949-8036
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
71
Number
5
Pages
209-214
Language
english
Abstract
Hygiene practices in neonatal units require the use of disinfecting solutions containing ethanol or isopropanol. Newly disinfected hands or soaked swabs introduced inside the incubators may emit vapours leading to alcohol exposures to the neonates. Alcohol emissions from hands and other occasional sources (e.g. soaked disinfecting swabs) lead to measurable levels of vapours inside incubators. Average isopropanol and ethanol concentrations ranging from 33.1 to 171.4 mg/m(3) (13.8 to 71.4 ppm) and from 23.5 to more than 146 mg/m3 (9.8 to > 6 ppm) respectively were measured inside occupied incubators (n = 11, measurement time about 230 min) in a neonatal unit of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in Lausanne during regular activity. Exposure concentrations in a wide range of possible situations were then investigated by modeling using the one-box dispersion model. Theoretical modeling suggested typical isopropanol peaks and average concentrations ranging between 10(2) and 10(3) mg/m(3) (4.10(1) to 4.10(2)ppm), and 10(1) to 10(2) mg/m(3) (4 to 4.10(1) ppm), respectively. Based on our results we suggest several preventive measures to reduce the neonates' exposures to solvent vapours.
Keywords
Infant, Newborn , 2-Propanol , Ethanol , Incubators , Inhalation Exposure , Handwashing ,
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Create date
11/07/2011 9:56
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:15
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