Diethyl ether exposure of EEG technicians using collodian.

The purpose of this study was to determine if EEG technicians using collodian are exposed to diethyl ether and to determine if there was an accumulation of ether in the body after repeated exposures. Breathing zone air and expired-air samples were collected on four EEG technicians for five consecutive days. Expired-air samples were also collected the following Monday morning. Measurable amounts of either were found in all samples collected from the subjects. No relationship was found between the levels of ether in the breathing zone and levels found in the individual subject's expired-air. Also, levels of ether in the expired-air did not increase over the week nor was there any consistent increase in levels at the end of the day immediately after exposure as compared to the morning level. The scatter diagram of the number of EEGs performed and the levels of ether in the breathing zone indicate a positive trend between these two factors. It can be concluded from this study that EEG technicians are exposed to diethyl ether via collodian use. It can also be concluded that a body burden exists in EEG technicians with repeated exposure to low concentrations of ether. Expired-air sample results were considered invalid because of analytical problems. For this reason, no conclusion can be drawn regarding a relationship between exposure levels and expired-air levels of ether, nor can any statement be made regarding the accumulation of ether in the body with repeated exposures.