Abstract Chronic exposure to waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) is an important occupational safety issue for anesthesia practitioners and others working in anesthetizing locations and post-anesthesia recovery units. While the results of epidemiological studies investigating the impact of WAG exposure on perioperative workers are conflicting, chronic exposure to low levels of inhalational anesthetic agents may be associated with oxidative damage, genotoxicity, teratogenicity, and fertility problems. Although completely eliminating the presence of WAGs from perioperative environments is not possible, exposure can be successfully minimized through workplace engineering, appropriate anesthetic management, and other modifications to the work environment.