title: Increasing rates of DNA single-strand breaks in lymphocytes of clinical personnel handling cytostatic drugs.
abstract: A total of 27 persons, working in cancer stations with exposure to cytostatics, and 40 healthy control persons were examined for DNA single-strand breaks in peripheral lymphocytes. Non-smoking personnel from cancer stations were found to have an increased rate of DNA single-strand breaks compared to the non-smoking control subjects. In the case of smokers an increased rate of DNA single-strand breaks could be recorded for those working in cancer stations as well as with the controls. DNA single-strand breaks indicate reversible damage to DNA. As DNA repair is not perfect in every case, an increased number of DNA single-strand breaks leads to irreversible DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University of Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reitz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afghanyar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gutjahr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded