Sedalia Cole, R. EEG T., CLTM, BAS; Keith Morgan, R. EEG T., MBA; Susan Agostini, R. EEG T., R. EP T.;

and Danica Harrier.

          Collodion is considered the best substance for applying electrodes to patients undergoing long-term EEG monitoring. Collodion contains nitrocellulose ethyl ether and ethanol. The ethyl ether produces vapors during the drying process. EEG technologists who regularly work around these vapors may question their personal safety and that of their patients as well.

          The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a permissible exposure limit for ethyl ether and ethyl alcohol as 400ppm and 1000ppm, respectively, for an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration.

          Technologists and patients should be made aware of the safety risks associated with collodion use. Industrial hygiene sampling was performed in procedure rooms at the Mayo Clinic on both June 14, 2016, and July 5, 2016, and during three Neurotech in-home EEG hookups on July 10, 2018.

          The tested employees’ 8-hour time-weighted average exposure levels ranged from 2.9-13ppm for ethyl alcohol. 13ppm is only 1.3% of the recommended 1000ppm threshold. Similarly, the ethyl ether concentrations ranged from 4.0ppm-9.3ppm. 9.3ppm is only 2.3% of the 400ppm threshold recommendation. These results indicate that EEG technologists are not exposed to unsafe levels of ethyl. Further testing in various settings to confirm findings in a larger sample is recommended.