How do passive dosimeters work in monitoring anesthetic gas exposure?

Passive dosimeters operate by being uncapped and worn for a designated time period during which they absorb anesthetic gases present in the environment. During this exposure, they collect and store data related to the concentration of these gases over time, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of exposure levels.

This method is particularly beneficial as it does not require any active mechanisms or power sources, making it a straightforward way to obtain an accurate measurement of anesthetic gas exposure during surgical procedures. Once the exposure period is complete, the dosimeters can then be analyzed in a laboratory setting to help determine if the exposure levels exceed safety thresholds.

The other options do not accurately represent how passive dosimeters function. They do not require continuous installation in the operating room, they do not actively sample gases, nor do they have an alarm feature for immediate gas level indication. Instead, the focus of passive dosimeters is on collecting data over a specified time to evaluate exposure after the fact.