Is There a Health Hazard in Anaesthetic Practice ? A. A. Spence and R. P. Knill-jones

Although it is a fact that the operating theatre environment is contaminated by anaesthetic gases which are taken up by the body tissues of theatre personnel, and although for the past 10 years and more there have been investigations of the consequences for health, there is still no direct evidence that this contamination is a health hazard. However, there is much indirect and circumstantial evidence, reviewed here, which, in the opinion of most observers, justifies fully both concern about contamination of theatre air and measures to reduce it.