[The state of health of oncology nurses characterized by genetic and immunotoxicologic biomarkers].
Statistical data indicate a chronic shortage of work-force due to overwork, ill health state and increased risk of chronic noninfectious diseases in Hungarian health care personnel, which needs investigations in order to decrease the risk. Nurses of oncology units, often exposed to carcinogens when preparing and handling cytostatic drugs, are especially at high risk. In the present publication we report a complex clinical, geno- and immunotoxicology risk assessment of altogether 500 nurses, performed during the last 10 years at various oncology units in Hungary. The obtained results indicate that the health status of nurses at oncology units is better than the Hungarian average, especially of hypertonia and type II diabetes. However, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and different thyroid gland diseases is significantly higher than those of the controls matched for sex and age. The results suggest that iron deficiency can potentiate the resistance to insulin, i.e. the persistence of iron deficiency may increase the serum glucose levels and thus the risk of diabetes. Among the studied geno- and immunotoxicology biomarkers, the frequency of chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchange and B lymphocytes was significantly increased compared to the matched controls. The obtained alterations demonstrate the occupational exposure of the nurses to cytostatic drugs, thus the introduction of more strict hygienic controls and compliance with the European Union chemical safety regulations is necessary.
Tompa
Anna
A
Közegészségtani Intézet, Semmelweis Egyetem, Budapest, Hungary. tomann@net.sote.hu
Magyar
Balázs
B
Tóth
Ferenc
F
Biró
Anna
A
Fodor
Zoltán
Z
Jakab
Mátyás
M
Major
Jenô
J
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006304:Health Status; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000078329:Workforce
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose