Analysis of the health condition of the children born to the personnel exposed to cytostatics at an oncology unit.
The health condition of the children born to the health personnel exposed to cytostatics at a specialized oncology unit, Faculty Hospital, Olomouc, was analyzed. Questionnaires and interviews were used to examine on the whole 44 workers (23 nurses, 7 physicians, 8 auxiliary nurses and 6 cleaners). The average age of the group was 34.8 years. By the time of the follow-up, 25 persons had worked at the unit for up to 5 years, 14 persons for 6 to 10 years, and 5 persons for 10 to 20 years. The nurses were exposed to cytostatics for 8 and more hours daily. The information extracted in the questionnaires concerned the course of delivery, obstetrical complications, birth weight and length, maturity, incidence of developmental defects. Data was further obtained concerning the postnatal health condition of the child, its well-being and further development. The exposed workers were asked about spontaneous abortions, course of deliveries, or risk pregnancies. Information on the exposure to cytostatics at the time of conception and pregnancy was considered as important. Of the 61 children under study, 10 were born to workers exposed to cytostatics at the time of conception or in the course of pregnancy. Two developmental defects were found among the 61 children, one of them being serious and not compatible with life, probably in connection with occupational exposure of the mother to ionizing radiation. Ten spontaneous abortions (8 early, 2 late abortions) and 12 risk pregnancies requiring hospitalization occurred in the group of 23 nurses in connection with physical effort. On the whole, the health condition of the children born to the exposed workers at the oncology unit studied has been found satisfactory. This is likely due to the good knowledgeability of the personnel of the character and actions of cytostatics and the introduction of technological safety measures as well as sticking to the guidelines for safe handling of cytostatics.
Medková
J
J
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty of Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia.
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents