[Studies on the long-term exposure of operating room personnel to 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluorethane (Halothane)].

Different operation theatres of the county of Gera were examined to quantify the exposition against halothane which is used as an inhalation narcotic, and also against ethanol. Besides the short time exposition (0.5 h) determined with gas sampling tubes the long time exposition (up to 8 h) was monitored personally by means of charcoal passive samplers. The analytical method of choice was gas chromatography, in the second case after thermal desorption of the enriched pollutants. Generally, the concentrations are lower than the MAKD if the workplace is equipped with an exhaust type NAREX 101. Without it the MAKD is reached quickly. A statistical evaluation of the results shows that there exist remarkable differences between as well the degree as the scattering of the individual exposition levels depending from the task in the operating theatre. Obviously the percentage of anesthesia using halothane is increasing.