Urinary biological monitoring markers of anticancer drug exposure in oncology nurses.
People handling anticancer drugs or their wastes may absorb these potent genotoxic agents. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of some general urinary markers among 24 female oncology nurses handling these drugs in comparison with 25 "unexposed" nurses. The markers were the Salmonella typhimurium reverse and forward mutation assays, total thioethers, and D-glucaric acid. The reverse mutation assay was the most specific and sensitive marker for anti-cancer drug exposure. Use of the marker battery was no great advantage as a screening tool relative to use of the reverse mutation assay alone. Better recording of work practices in nurse work logs would have improved interpretation of results.
Newman
M A
MA
Health Environments, Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Valanis
B G
BG
Schoeny
R S
RS
Hee
S Q
SQ
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005937:Glucaric Acid / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D009859:Oncology Nursing
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003404:Creatinine; D005937:Glucaric Acid