The Prevalence of Inhalational Anesthetics: Investigating its Effect and Remedies in our Environment
Keywords:
Inhalational Anesthetics, Remedies, EnvironmentAbstract
This study examined the prevalence of Inhalational Anesthetics: Investigating its Effect and Remedies in our Environment. In carrying out this study descriptive survey design was adopted. The study was carried out in Imo State, Nigeria. The targeted population for the study consisted of Public Health Doctors and Environmental Scientists in Imo State, Nigeria. A stratified sampling technique was used in selecting 70 Public Health Personnel and 60 Environmental Scientists in Imo State. This gave a total of 130 respondents which formed the sample size for this study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Inhalational Anesthetics and Environment Questionnaire” (IAEQ). Face and content validation of the instrument was carried out by an expert in test, measurement, and evaluation in order to ensure that the instrument has the accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness for the study under consideration. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.92, and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated for this study to appropriate statistical technique such descriptive statistics to answer research questions. The result of the findings revealed that the extent of inhalational anesthetics in the environment was very high, with 36.15% of respondents indicating Very High Extent and 29.23% indicating High Extent “The study also revealed that monitoring of Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) recorded the highest percentage (29.23%) among the identified control strategies for inhalational anesthetics, while environmental and occupational control strategies recorded the least percentage (10.67%).” The study concluded that although inhalational anesthetics remain essential in modern medicine, their safe use requires strict regulation, technological improvement, and environmental management to minimize adverse health and ecological impacts while maintaining clinical effectiveness. The study recommended that governments and healthcare institutions should promote the use of modern low-toxicity anesthetic agents and encourage research into safer alternatives to reduce environmental and health impacts.
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