We have shown that a medical grade air recirculating device running at 450 cfm and equipped with an activated carbon filter significantly reduces gas phase toluene, a common and surgically relevant VOC, from the air in an enclosed simulated OR. VOC levels are reduced by approximately 25-30% within the first 130 min. Changing the activated carbon filter after more than 20 h of air recirculation abruptly increases the rate of VOC removal, underscoring the importance of properly maintaining air cleaning devices with fresh material on a regular basis. Running the device during electrosurgical procedures is expected to reduce contamination in the OR air and particularly in the perimeter of the room which is the most polluted area of a surgical environment. Combining supplementary activated carbon filtration with standard air changes and positive pressure will help improve environmental conditions in ORs.