Development of regenerative dye impregnated mesoporous silica materials for assessing exposure to ammonia.

The mesostructured materials MCM-41 and SBA-15 were studied as possible supports of bromocresol green (BG) dye impregnation for the ammonia gas detection because of their large surface area, high regenerative property, and high thermal stability. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, and N2 adsorption analysis were used to characterize the prepared materials. These materials could sense ammonia via visible color change from yellowish-orange to blue color.

A local scavenging system to remove waste anesthetic gases during general anesthesia.

Background: A local scavenging system was constructed and tested in both the operating room and the laboratory to remove the waste anesthetic gases so as to lower the exposure risk of the anesthetic personnel.

Methods: A local scavenging system was developed to suck away the waste anesthetic gases (e.g.

Using an extractive Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for improving cleanroom air quality in a semiconductor manufacturing plant.

A mobile extractive Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer was successfully used to locate, identify, and quantify the "odor" sources inside the cleanroom of a semiconductor manufacturing plant. It was found that ozone (O(3)) gas with a peak concentration of 120 ppm was unexpectedly releasing from a headspace of a drain for transporting used ozonized water and that silicon tetrafluoride (SiF(4)) with a peak concentration of 3 ppm was off-gassed from silicon wafers after dry-etching processing. When the sources of the odors was pinpointed by the FTIR, engineering control measures were applied.

Personnel exposure to waste sevoflurane and nitrous oxide during general anesthesia with cuffed endotracheal tube.

Background: Waste anesthetic gases may have adverse effects on the health of operating room personnel. To reduce the risk of exposure, the United States National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (US-NIOSH) recommends a time-weighted average (TWA) of 25 ppm (part-per-million) for nitrous oxide (N2O) and a ceiling of 2 ppm for sevoflurane (SEV). This study investigated the concentrations of these two gases in the atmosphere of operating room to which the working personnel (anesthetists) were exposed during anesthetic practice.