Potential Exposure to Glutaraldehyde
In addition to its use as a disinfectant, glutaraldehyde is employed as a tissue fixative in histology and pathology laboratories, as well as a hardening agent in the development of X-rays.
Healthcare workers who may be exposed to glutaraldehyde include:
- Hospital staff working in departments that use cold sterilization procedures, such as gastroenterology and cardiology
- Staff in operating rooms, dialysis units, endoscopy units, and intensive care units where glutaraldehyde is used for infection control
- Central service or supply workers who use glutaraldehyde as a sterilant
- Research technicians, laboratory researchers, and pharmacy personnel who prepare alkaline solutions or fix tissues in histology and pathology labs
- Laboratory technicians who sterilize benchtops with glutaraldehyde solutions
- Workers involved in X-ray development
How Exposure Occurs
Workers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde primarily through inhalation or skin contact during the following procedures:
- Cold sterilization of instruments in endoscopy and surgical units
- Pouring glutaraldehyde solutions into or out of sterilizing pans
- Removing sterilized equipment from sterilizing pans
- Disinfecting histology/pathology laboratory tabletops
- Mixing and activating various glutaraldehyde solutions
- Fixing tissues in histology labs
- Developing X-rays