Number

064-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

Exposure to a diethyl ether containing adhesive, used to attach the electrodes in long-term encephalograms (EEG), was incriminated for causing dizziness and headache to nurses but also to patients in two health care units in France. The case describes the exposure during different phases of the EEG, and proposes measures to replace the adhesive or to change the way electrodes are fixed, making the adhesive unnecessary.

Substituted substances

Reliability of information

Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed

Reason substitution

sensitizing

Other type of alternative

Non-chemical alternative to fix electrodes  using helmets.

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: Diethylether is not included in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substance: Non-chemical alternative

Description of Substitution

Requests to identify and eliminate the cause of headache claimed by nurses and patients in two French health care units led to a study that assessed working conditions and measured exposure to solvents. The adhesive (collodion) used to fix the electrodes for long-term encephalograms (EEG longer than 24 hours) contained 75% diethyl ether as main solvent. This substance is volatile and may cause dizziness or drowsiness, so it was suspected to be the cause of the reported nuisances. Moreover, the rooms where the electrodes were handled did not have appropriate ventilation. Recommendations for protective and preventive measures included non-chemical alternatives like: - full helmet, a hood made of a tissue on which electrodes are fixed, with the disadvantage that the position of electrodes is assigned a priori - helmet made of belts on which electrodes are fixed, that can be used for EEG no more than a couple of hours. The replacement of the current adhesive with a solvent free adhesive was also recommended and implemented. However, there is not enough information about the ingredients of this alternative product (see an example of MSDS in Further Information). After the solvent was abandoned, symptoms disappeared.

Case/substitution evaluation

The substitution is easy to implement but needs some investments for helmets and training of the personnel. The non-chemical alternatives are a successful substitution. Since the alternative “solvent free” is not named, there is an information gap because of these, no assessment of this can be made here.

State of implementation

In use

Availability ofAlternative

Alternative is available on the market.

Type of information supplier

Authority
Research

Contact

L’Institut national de recherche et de sécurité pour la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles (INRS), http://www.inrs.fr/accueil/inrs.html

Further information

EC2 cream for EEG  example of MSDS   http://www.mvapmed.com/MSDS_Forms/EC2%20Cream%201402.pdf

Type of publication and availability

Freely available on internet, only in French

Publication source: author, company, institute, year

The description is based on the document ’Exposition aux solvants organiques lors de la pose d'electrodes pour electroencephalogrammes de longue duree’ published by INRS on its website, in 2011.

Publication source

Type of publication and availability

http://www.inrs.fr/accueil/produits/mediatheque/doc/publications.html?refINRS=TF%20194

Date, reviewed

December 11, 2020