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Environmental Effects
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) has recommended exposure limits
as follows (ref 1).
NO
time-weighted (8 hours) average
concentration limit of 25 ppm
NO
ceiling limit of 1 ppm.
2
The environmental build up of nitric oxide in a well
ventilated ICU room can be evaluated using the
following calculation:
Room size
10 ft square (approx. 3 meters)
Room volume
27,000 L
of air
Room ventilation 2,700 L/min
at 6 room
changes / hr
NO flow into room 14 L/min at 80 ppm
Average room
80 x 14 / 2,700 = 0.4 ppm of NO
concentration
of NO
This theoretic calculation can be supplemented by
measurements as performed by Hess et al. The
NO and NO
concentrations were measured using
2
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
concentrations measured over a one-hour period
were 0.12 ppm of NO and 0.03 ppm of NO
Part No. 20732 Rev-02
2014-02
Both 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
build up prior to use.
2
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.
2
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