[Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs in a hospital setting: biological and environmental monitoring].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the occupational exposure of hospital personnel handling antineoplastics drugs using a highly sensitive and specific analitycal method in biological and environmental samples.


METHODS
To develop analitycal methods for the biological and environmental monitoring of more than one substance.


METHODS
Five departments of the Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi (Bologna, Italy) involved in the preparation and administration of antineoplastic drugs.


METHODS
50 nurses handling antineoplastics drugs.


METHODS
Evaluation of the occupational exposure of hospital personnel handling and administering anticancer drug cocktails.


RESULTS
19 of 50 subjects were positive to biological monitoring. Three were positive for MTX only, 11 for CP only and 5 subjects were positive for both. Urinary MTX levels ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 ppb, CP ranged fom 0.06 to 10.0 ppb. Wipe tests showed a higher contamination on the hoods working tray (where drugs are prepared), suggesting that the organization layout can affect the surface contamination level. Samples from each department resulted positive for at least one of three drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
The analytical methods developed allow sensitive and specific determination of indicators of internal and external dose. Biological monitoring is of primary importance for assessing the real espoxure of hospital personnel during the preparation and administration of the drugs. Environmental monitoring stresses the importance to observe the Guidelines for standard operating procedures and the importance of protective disposables to reduce exposure and the associated health risk.
Barbieri
Anna
A
Servizio di sicurezza, igiene e medicina del lavoro, Università di Bologna, Ospedale Sant'Orsola-Malpighi. anna.barbieri3@unibo.it
Nucci
Maria Concetta
MC
Sabatini
Laura
L
Risi
Alessandro
A
Bolognesi
Claudia
C
Colacci
Annainaria
A
Violante
Francesco Saverio
FS
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000652:urine*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents