Background: Phenol is commonly used in chemical matrixectomies to treat ingrown toenails. Although many studies have documented the safety of phenol matrixectomy for the patient, few studies have investigated the procedure's safety for the physician and auxiliary health care personnel.
Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of phenol vapor inhalation for health care personnel during performance of chemical matrixectomy.
Methods: The environmental concentrations of phenol in the respiration zones of the physician and an assistant were measured during an in-office surgical procedure consisting of two partial chemical matrixectomies using a 95% phenol solution. The samples were analyzed using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector.
Results: The phenol concentration measured in the physician's respiration zone was close to Spain's established environmental limit of daily exposure, with an index of exposure of 60%. The concentration measured in the assistant's respiration zone was well below the environmental limit of daily exposure, with an index of exposure of only 10%.
Conclusion: The performance of chemical matrixectomies is safe for health care personnel when they are exposed to the vapor of phenol solutions of up to 95% concentration for up to 21 minutes. The degree of safety would be greater with lower phenol concentrations and shorter exposure times.