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Occupational health and safety concerns have been raised in recent years by workers
using chemical sterilizers in the dental industry in Manitoba. Workers complained of
persistent headaches, eye and throat irritation, nausea, fatigue and some skin
sensitivity. 50-to-70 percent of dental offices in Manitoba use chemical sterilizers.
Dental offices throughout the province and also the three dental schools were
inspected. Airborne formaldehyde levels ranged from four to five parts per million, which
exceeds the current international standard of 0.3 ppm. The control measures available to
dentists included local exhaust ventilation/chemipurge/substitution. Workers noticed a
significant improvement in working conditions once control measures were implemented.
To obtain a copy of this study please contact Dr. Rita Korczynski, Occupational
Hygiene Unit, Workplace Safety & Health, 200 - 401 York Avenue Winnipeg
R3C0P8 or phone 204-945-3614.
E-mail: rkorczynsk@gov.mb.ca
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