Relationship between occupational exposure to
anaesthetic gases and spontaneous abortion
M. Bodaghabadi
Department of Education, Sabzevar Medical University,
Sabzevar, Iran
Introduction: There are
different opinions about the relationship between the exposure of pregnant
staff members to anaesthetic gases and the occurance of spontaneous abortion.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between
the exposure to anaesthetic gases and the occurance of spontaneous abortion.
Design and Methods: This is a case control study performed at all educational
hospitals of tehran. All staff personnel were interviewed and then were
devided to case and control group according to the ward they were working
during their pregnancy. Case group spent their pregnancy in operating rooms.
The control group were working in other wards of hospital except operating
room, angiography, radiotherapy, radiology, chemicotherapy and x-ray units.
687 hospital staff members were matched in charectristics such as age of
pregnancy occurred, number of deliveries, and the number of cigarettes smoked
per day.
Results: Out of 524 pregnanc cases, 262 were exposed to anaesthetic
gases during pregnancy. The rate of spontaneous abortion was 9.06% (case group),
and 5.97% in the control group.The difference was not statistically
significant (p>0.05). That means there is no relationship between the
occupational exposure to anaesthetic gases and spontaneous abortion.
Conclusion: Occupational hazerds always exist and avoidance of unreasonable
exposure is rational.therfore medicall staph shoud receive warrents in this
regard.
