الفهرس 
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Abstract
This essay reviews a number of pollution hazards that may affect
operating room personnel especially anaesthesiologists. These pollution
hazards include pollution with trace anaesthetic vapours or gases in the
operating rooms, exposure to radiation, infections and finally noise
pollution.
Atmospheric pollution of the operating rooms with inhalational
anaesthetics and other surgical smoke is a serious health problem to
operating room personnel and their offsprings. Health hazards caused by
chronic exposure to trace anaesthetic include effects on the central
nervous system, teratogenecity, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight,
infertility, carcinogenecity, liver affection, effects on methionine
synthetase activity as well as other diseases.
The allowable safe concentratious of these gases in the operating
rooms as defined by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health are 25ppm for nitrous oxide and O.5ppm for all halogenated
anaesthetics when used with nitrous oxide (2ppm if used alone). The
techniques for trace gas monitoring include the instantaneous sampling
technique, the time-weighed average sampling technique, and the most
accurate but most expeusive continuous sampling with special monitors.
Various devices are used to suck away the inhalational anaesthetics
from the expiratory valve of the anaesthetic machine. There is a need for
more developed scavenging systems at the present time.
Other measures to guard against theatre pollution include a number
of items. The anesthetic machine has to be servicedby a manufacture’s
representative every four to six months. Also, proper mask fitting or
intbuation and connection to the anaesthetic machine should be ensured
before turning on nitrous oxide, flowmeter or the vaporizer. Oxygen on
the other hand, should be administered as long as possible before
extubation or removal of the mask. Spilling the volatile anesthetic while
filling the vaporizer should be avoided. Air conditioning systems should
be designed to remove the anaesthetic contamination resulting from
malfunction of the scavenging systems and room ventilation should be
adequately maintained.
(ORP) also exposed to surgical smoke from laparoscopic and lasers
operations leading to eye injuries and respiratory diseases. So that
scavenging and surgical evacuation system should be used and using
other gases instead of C02 in laparoscopic operations to decrease
exposure to carbon monoxide.
Pollution hazard of (ORP) from radiation results from either
ionizing from x-ray or fluoroscopy or nonionizing from lasers. Ionizing
radiations lead to abortion, still birth congenital anomalies, leukemia,
decrease in the immunitywhile nonionizing radiations lead to eye injuries
and respiratory diseases. For protection against ionizing radiation, a lead
apron, lead thyroid collar, radiation badge and shielded glasses should be
used. Special protective eye wears are used to protect against laser.
The infections transmitted from patients include AIDS, hepatitis
and herpetic whitlow. Blood, blood products and body secretions are
direct sources of infections. Wearing gloves, masks and frequent hands
(;QSUMMARYfIi)
washing, avoiding needle injury and the use of emergency ventilation
devices to avoid mouth to mouth breathing are examples of protective
measures against such infections.
Noise pollution result from suction devices, diathermy, ventilators,
scavenging systems, also talking staff in the operating room. Noise affect
the cardiovascular, endocrinal systems and lead to hearing impairment,
also contributes with other operating room factors leading to stress. To
decrease noise we have to limit unnecessary conversations and limit the
number of personnel in the operating room, routine audiologic testing and
decrease the other operating room factors to decrease the stress, music
play an important rule in reducing stress.