Selected Ion Monitoring – Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Determination of Halothane Fumes in Operating Theatres

Abstract

Halothane vapour, used as an inhaled anaesthetic for narcosis, is released during surgical operations causing occupational exposure to medical staff and nurses. The current work continues the controversial issues related to the biological side effects of halothane, and gives a simple method for sampling and determining the air concentration of the anaesthetic in different rooms used for surgical operations. Air contaminants were collected on active charcoal, using a portable pump. Liquid extraction with toluene was followed by injection of the eluate onto a GC capillary column coupled to a quadrupole mass detector. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision and accuracy. The concentration of halothane in the air was found to depend on room volume, air ventilation rate inside the theatres, and on the technical condition of the vaporiser and anaesthesia devices. Introduction