American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Although low concentrations of inhaled nitric oxide may by therapeutic, both nitric oxide and its oxidation product nitrogen dioxide are potentially toxic. The threshold limits for time-weighted average concentrations of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide issued by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists are 25 and 3 ppm, respectively. The concentrations of these gases in the breathing space of hospital personnel during administration of nitric oxide to adult patients have not been reported. ⋯ Inhaled nitric oxide therapy at doses up to 20 ppm does not appear to pose a risk of excessive occupational exposure to nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide to nurses during routine delivery of critical care.