A survey of anesthetic health hazards among dentists

Anesthetic gases as an occupational hazard--a review.

“…In this study the authors even reported a higher frequency of spontaneous abortions among nonexposed women whose husbands worked as anesthesiologists. Similar results were reported in an American study from 1975 (17), in which wives of exposed dentists had a higher frequency of spontaneous abortion in comparison with nonexposed referents. In two English questionnaire surveys (42,43), in which 1,431 male and 849 female anesthesiologists answered, the results indicated a higher rate of spontaneous abortion among exposed women, whereas the husbands' exposure did not seem to influence the outcome of pregnancy.…”

“…There are also case reports on icterus and liver cirrhosis among anesthetists exposed to halothane (6,41). In some of the larger epidemiologic studies made in America (16,17) and Czechoslovakia (51), an increased frequency of liver disease among anesthesiologists was observed. In England Spence & Knill-Jones (60) reported significantly more liver disease among anesthesiologists than among other hospital personnel.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-94-0227-2448, D. Kurtzman, DDS, Atlanta, Georgia.

“…9 Human studies have reported a higher than expected incidence of spontaneous abortions among female workers directly exposed to N 2 O and other anesthetic gases. 10 Other studies suggest the incidence of congenital abnormalities and spontaneous abortion is slightly higher in the offspring of wives of exposed dentists, as well as reduced fertility in women occupationally exposed. 11,12 Studies have shown that adverse neurologic effects (e.g.…”

Occupational Hazards of Halogenated Volatile Anesthetics and their Prevention: Review of the Literature

“…The first retrospective epidemiological studies from the 70s reported a correlation between the occupational exposure to anesthetic gases and spontaneous abortions and fetal malformations [34][35][36][37][38], and still serve as a basis for further studies and discussions nowadays. Later, the results of these surveys have been revised and criticized several times [39][40][41].…”