Safe decontamination of hospital autopsy rooms and ventilation system by formaldehyde generation.

Space decontamination was required prior to the onset of a remodeling project in the autopsy suite of a large university-hospital complex. The National Institutes of Health procedure using formaldehyde gas as a disinfectant was modified to decontaminate not only the three autopsy rooms but also the exhaust ductwork and the three associated air incinerators. Modifications included an automated formaldehyde gas generator, a smoke test procedure for leaks, and an exhausting technique. This procedure proved to be successful and has the advantage of including the safety features necessary to conduct such a potentially hazardous decontamination in an occupied hospital.

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde in a medical center autopsy service.

The formaldehyde exposures occurring in the autopsy service of a medical complex were evaluated as part of a study to detect genetically harmful effects of chemical exposures. Determination of time-weighted average (TWA) exposures and characterization of the patterns of exposure experienced by individuals with different work responsibilities in this occupational setting were sought. Both general area and breathing zone samples were evaluated. Estimated weekly time-weighted average exposures for pathologists, residents and technicians were determined to be between 0.61 and 1.32 parts per million with little difference between work roles. While the averages were similar, the patterns of exposure of technicians and physicians were different. Technicians were exposed to a baseline level of formaldehyde for a prolonged period of time. In contrast, physicians were exposed for shorter times but experienced higher levels during specific tasks, particularly tissue-sectioning and examination. Evaluations of work procedures and environmental conditions in autopsy services are recommended to reduce personnel exposure to formaldehyde vapor.

Decreased absorption of propoxyphene by activated charcoal.

In 1968 we first suggested that activated charcoal (AC) should be administered in the emergency treatment of propoxyphene overdosage. The dramatic increase in recent years of deaths involving propoxyphene has prompted us to again evaluate the efficacy of AC in preventing absorption of propoxyphene from the GI tract. Male rats (100-125 g) were administered propoxyphene hydrochloride (P-HCl, 350 mg/kg) or propoxyphene napsylate (P-N, 825 mg/kg) either dissolved or suspended in 5% acacia in H2O. After 30 min the rats were administered either AC at 10 times the drug dose or water. Surviving rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h; the brain, liver, and both kidneys were removed intact, weighed, and stored at -70 degrees C. After lyophilization, the tissues were analyzed for propoxyphene and its metabolite, norpropoxyphene, by GLC. There were significantly less deaths in rats that received P-HCl + AC or P-N + AC than rats that received either P-HCl or P-N alone (9 vs 19, p less than .01 and 5 vs 10, p less than .05 respectively). Tissue levels of propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene were similarly significantly reduced. These studies provide further evidence of the efficacy of AC in propoxyphene overdosage.