Information :

Web Changes:

This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.

STA 06 Poster (PDF)

Press Releases:

Hospital Anesthetic Gas Discharges and the Environment: Prevent the Vent(This PDF document has been developed by the Blue Zone Inc & the Canadian Center for Pollution Prevention) 

Article about Waste Anesthetic Gases (This PDF document has been developed by the ASA Task Force on Trace Anesthetic Gases of the ASA Committee on Occupational Health of Operating Room Personnel)   

Wall Street Journal Article about refrigerant (PDF)

NY Times article: Clinton Foundation to Work to Reduce Greenhouse Gases (PDF)

Super Computers Make Global Warming Visible (PDF)

Global warming nears ‘dangerous’ level (PDF)

The case for recycling:

What is the business case for volatile anesthetic recycling?
1. ENVIRONMENTAL - Although haloethers are not as harmful as CFCs (either through greenhouse warming or ozone destruction), the emission of thousands of tons annually is not benign. It is likely that, as environmental regulation becomes more stringent, these gas emissions will become prime targets for regulation.

2. ECONOMIC - It is certain that, if a significant fraction of these gases can be captured and reprocessed, the cost of anesthetic manufacture will be significantly reduced. In this win-win situation, manufacturing costs decline, prices decline, profits increase, and all parties benefit.

For example - A large hospital uses 400 gallons of volatile anesthetic per year at a retail cost of $1500/gal. Most of this can be reclaimed and potentially reused at a small fraction of the retail cost. Multiply this savings by over 6000 US hospitals and surgicenters and the economic advantage is significant (as well as the potential environmental impact).

Chemical Properties OF Anesthetic Gases:
1. ISOFLURANE

Isoflurane1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether
CAS #: 26675-46-7
C3H2ClF5O
RTECS # KN6799000
Molecular mass: 184.5
Melting point: -108°C
Boiling point: +48.5°C
Relative density (water = 1): 1.5
Vapour pressure, kPa at 20°C: 32
General anesthetic; Nonflammable

2. DESFLURANE

Desflurane1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether
C3H2F6O
RTECS #
Molecular mass: 168
Melting point: -103°C
Boiling point: +23.5 °C
Relative density (water = 1): 1.5
Solubility in water: poor
Vapour pressure, kPa at 20°C: 89
General anesthetic; Nonflammable

3. SEVOFLURANE

Sevoflurane

Ether, fluoromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl
CAS # 28523-86-6
C4H3F7O

RTECS # KO0737000
Molecular mass: 200.1
Melting point –67°C
Boiling point: +58.5°C
Vapour pressure, kPa at 20°C: 21

 

 

 

General anesthetic; Nonflammable

 

 

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