Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2020-71-3406
How improvements in monitoring and safety practices lowered airborne formaldehyde concentrations at an Italian university hospital: a summary of 20 years of experience
Stefano Dugheri
orcid.org/0000-0002-3078-7188
; Careggi University Hospital, Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Laboratory, Florence, Italy
Daniela Massi
; University of Florence, Department of Health Sciences, Section of Pathology, Florence, Italy, 3 Careggi University Hospital, Histopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Florence, Italy
Nicola Mucci
orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-1035
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Nicola Berti
; Careggi University Hospital, Health and Safety Service, Florence, Italy
Sažetak
The last two decades have been crucial for the assessment of airborne formaldehyde (FA) exposure in healthcare
environments due to changes in limits and reference values, definition of carcinogenicity, and new monitoring methods.
The aim of this study was to analyse twenty years (1999–2019) of experience in automatic, continuous airborne FA
monitoring in the Pathology Laboratory and operating rooms at the Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. These
20 years saw gradual improvements in FA monitoring of exposed employees considered at maximum risk, including
improvements in analytical methods of detection and sampling strategies, which came with changes in procedures and
workflow operations. In 2019, after the adoption of safe practices, including a closed-circuit system using pre-loaded
containers and a vacuum sealing, 94 % of the total measurements (FA concentrations) were lower than 16 μg/m3, and
only 6 % ranged from 21 to 75 μg/m3. In the studied work units, the ratio between area and personal readings ranged
from 0.9 to 1.0, both for long and short-term sampling. Personal sampling was simplified with a new workstation, which
integrated different monitoring systems into an innovative ergonomic armchair equipped with personal sampling devices.
Area monitoring was also improved with a real-time, continuous photoacoustic instrument. Over these 20 years, FA
exposure significantly dropped, which coincided with optimised histology workflow and implementation of safety practices.
For high-throughput screening and cost savings we propose an innovative ergonomic armchair station which allows
remote continuous monitoring.
Ključne riječi
air monitoring; formaldehyde; personal sampling; remote control; safe practices
Hrčak ID:
243867
URI
Datum izdavanja:
22.9.2020.
Posjeta: 1.044 *