[Harzard of chronic exposure to halothane for operating room personnel]

This study shows that the staff working in an operating room is repeatedly being exposed to appreciable doses of halothane vapours. A continuous measurement of the concentrations in the ambient air gave results ranging from 5 to 30 ppm. Summits from 50 to 70 ppm were noted. The inhaling of halothane was evidenced by the presence of brominated metabolites in the urine of the staff. A mean 14,59 mg/l was found with women anaesthesists. Therefore it is quite possible that the halothane spread in the air should be held responsible for the discomfort felt in particular by anaesthesists. To prevent this risk of chronic intoxication by those vapours, there ought to be a device permitting either to evacuate them outside or to collect them while regenerating the polluted air through an active carbon filter if one has not got at one's disposal an airing system offering over 20 renewals of fresh air per hour. The fitting up of a permanent control device equipped with warning light and bell is also justified.