Mallinckrodt INOMAX DSir Plus, Operation Manual

Page: 38 / 206

Part No. 20717 Rev-01
2014-07
1-26
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) have recommended exposure
limits as follows (Ref. 1).
NO time-weighted (8 hours) average
concentration limit of 25 ppm
NO
2
ceiling limit of 1 ppm.
The environmental build up of NO in a well
ventilated ICU room can be evaluated using the
following calculation.
Room size 1000 ft
3
Room volume 28,300 L
Room ventilation
(6 complete exchanges/hour)
2,830 L/min
NO flow into the room 80 ppm at
14 L/min
Average NO room
concentration
(80 x 14) ÷ 2,830
(80 x 14) ÷ 2,830 = 0.396 ppm
(0.4 ppm)
0.4 ppm of NO
This theoretic calculation can be supplemented by
measurements as performed by Hess et al (Ref. 2).
The NO and NO
2
concentrations were measured
using a chemiluminescence analyzer when 100
ppm of NO at 8 L/min was delivered into a room
with no scavenging being used. The maximum NO
and NO
2
concentrations measured over a one hour
period were 0.12 ppm of NO and 0.03 ppm of NO
2
.
Environmental Effects
Both these methods show that the exposure levels
are significantly less than the levels recommended
by NIOSH.
If the location for using NO has uncertain
ventilation then the location should be evaluated for
NO and NO
2
build up prior to use.
References:
(Ref. 1) Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA
30333 USA.
NIOSH Recommendations for Occupational
Safety and Health Standards 1988.
August 26, 1988 / vol. 37 / No. 9.
(Ref. 2) Hess et al, Use of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in
patients with Acute Respiratory Distress
Syndrome.
Respiratory Care, 1996, vol. 41, No. 5,
pg. 424-446.