Study on environmental quality of a surgical block

This article presents the study of a surgical block with serious deficienci es of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) located in the Hospital del Rio Hortega (Val ladolid, Spain). Block characteristics were identified and symptoms reports collected from 118 workers. At the end of the initial investigation, it wa s concluded that there was Sick Building Syndrome. Measurements of ventilat ion and contaminants were made of indoor air (CO, CO2, TVOC, anaesthetic ga ses, at six differents points simultaneously) and outdoor air (hospital inc inerator). Studies with trace vapors (Xylene) were also performed on instal lations which crossed the surgical area to see whether a relationship exist ed between the different surgical areas studied and other areas of the heal th centre. Actions on contaminating foci, climatization-ventilation and per sonnel training were finally recommended to Administration to solve the pro blem. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.