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SummaryBackground and objective: This study was performed to determine the individual exposure of paediatric operating theatre personnel to sevoflurane and to evaluate the impact of inhalation induction and various airway approaches on exposure to airborne sevoflurane.

Mean individual environmental (workplace air) exposure to sevoflurane and a biomarker of exposure (urinary sevoflurane) were monitored in 36 subjects (10 anaesthetists, 10 surgeons, 12 nurses and 4 auxiliary personnel) working in two paediatric operating rooms.

Environmental and urinary values were significantly greater in anaesthetists compared with other groups, with median values of 0.65 ppm (interquartile range 1.36; 95th percentile 4.36) for breathing zone sevoflurane and 2.1 μg L−1 urine (interquartile range 2.6; 95th percentile 7.6) for urinary sevoflurane. Anaesthetists exceeded the 2 ppm maximum allowed …