[Occupational exposure evaluation in some endoscopic services of Campania region sanitary structures]

Peroxyacetic acid is an organic peroxide characterized by an elevated oxidative power, a remarkable biocide effectiveness (higher than the glutaraldehyde) and it can result cold germicidal at concentrations down to the 0.2%, too. In these last years, its use has been introduced in the sanitary sector in glutaraldehyde substitution (GTA), for the endoscopic material disinfection. The goal of this study has been to determine the aerodisperse peroxyacetic acid (APA) concentrations released by APA daily employment in endoscopic surgery operating rooms and sanitary endoscopy sections, related to some Campania region structures. A thirty samplings collection has been performed in "fixed posting", 15 measures in proximity of the "basins" and other 15 samplings in the closeness of the "automatic endoscope washer-disinfectors", to appraise the environmental pollution level during the whole working turn. Besides, 18 personal dosimetries have been effected in the APA solutions activation and decanting phases (load and unloading) employees: six "automatic endoscope washer-disinfectors" evaluations and twelve "basins" measures, for all through the operation (around 15-20 minutes). Air monitoring was performed by using vials containing alkaline silica gels with methyl p-tolylsulfoxide (MTSO) (1 l/min) and subsequently analysis by high performance liquid chromatography techniques (HPLC) equipped with a UV detector. The environmental investigations have underlined that APA average values result inferior to the specific TLV-TWA (around 1/10) and it reaches the same conclusion in comparison with TLV-STEL (around 1/4). Besides, the APA exposure founded in all the examined structures results smaller in comparison to the previously glutaraldehyde evaluation.