Ambient air pollution in gastrointestinal endoscopy unit

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Health
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Endoscopy units face potential health risks from patient-emitted gases and electrocoagulated tissue.
• Exposure to indoor air pollutants can harm healthcare personnel and patients undergoing procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and quantify indoor air quality within a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit.
• To identify specific pollutants and their locations within the unit.

Main Methods:

• Indoor air quality indices including CO2, VOCs, PM2.5, NO2, CO, and ozone were measured.
• Monitoring was conducted using passive sensors in procedural, recovery, and cleansing areas over one week.
• Endoscopic procedure types and volumes were recorded concurrently.

Main Results:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2), PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone levels were highest in the cleansing area.
• Volatile organic compound (VOC) levels were highest in the procedural area.
• Poor air quality levels for CO2 and VOCs were frequent in procedural areas, while NO2 was elevated in cleansing areas. VOC levels correlated with procedure volume and PM2.5, and CO2 levels correlated with colonoscopies, especially those involving electrocoagulation.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare personnel and patients in endoscopy units are exposed to ambient air pollution.
• Findings underscore the need for health-protective strategies against indoor air pollution in these settings.