[Occupational medicine studies of 7 ethylene oxide-exposed endoscopy nursing professionals]

For 7 working days running the ethyleneoxide (EtO) concentration has been determined in a medium sized sterilization plant of a medical endoscopy department. Sampling was taken from passive collectors of 3 M. The concentrations were 4 times (= 57% of the whole measured values) under the detection limit of 0.25 ppm = 0.46 mg/m3 in accordance with an eight hour shift; the EtO-level of 1.5, 2.1 and 9.2 ppm stayed for the remaining cases. Consequently the present valid TRK-value of 3 ppm was exceeded only one time. The exposition duration was between 0.6 and 13 years (median 5.5 years) for these 7 participants with a mean age of 33.4 (median 5.5 years). On the occasion of routine laboratory checks which included the analysis of important hematological, hepatological, nephrological and immunological values, no EtO-exposure has been found which was in causal connection with pathological findings. The search for specific RAST-IgE-antibodies against EtO in serum passed negatively. The enzyme activities of the gamma-GT correlated approximately with the anamnestic mentioned alcohol quantity, consumed daily.