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Ambient air and its potential effects on conception in vitro
J Cohen1, A Gilligan, W Esposito
1The Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science of Saint Barnabas, Livingston, New Jersey, USA.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Chemical air contamination is common in assisted reproductive technology labs. HEPA-filtered air and incubators can accumulate volatile organic compounds, necessitating improved air quality standards and filtration methods.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Laboratory Management
Background:
- Chemical air contamination (CAC) is a frequent issue in assisted reproductive technology (ART) labs.
- Concerns exist regarding emissions from vehicles and industry, yet air content standards are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe air sampling methods and assay systems for laboratory air quality assessment.
- To identify sources and types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ART laboratory environments.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of air sampling techniques.
- Analysis of air samples from laboratories and incubators.
- Identification of specific VOCs, including hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds.
Main Results:
- Unfiltered outside air can be cleaner than HEPA-filtered lab air or incubator air.
- Incubators showed accumulation of VOCs like benzene and toluene.
- Isopropyl alcohol was the most dominant VOC detected, with low concentrations in incubator air.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory air quality can be compromised by VOCs from various sources, including lab materials and equipment.
- Effective measures against CAC include activated carbon filters and oxidizing materials in air handling systems and incubators.