title: Inhalation and dermal exposure to eight antineoplastic drugs in an industrial laundry facility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to quantify levels of dermal and inhalation exposure to antineoplastic drugs in an industrial laundry service in the Netherlands and to test the removal efficiency of the washing procedure for removal of antineoplastic drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  During four workdays dermal and inhalation exposure to eight frequently used antineoplastic drugs (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, etoposide, cytarabine, gemcitabine and chlorambucil) were measured for all job titles involved in handling unwashed laundry. To test the removal efficiency of the washing procedure, 10 x 10 cm sections were excised before and after the washing procedure. These sections were taken from 15 bed sheets that were collected in hospitals of patients who were treated with one of the selected antineoplastic drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During none of the four measurement days, detectable levels of any of the eight antineoplastic drugs (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, etoposide, cytarabine, gemcitabine, or chlorambucil) were found on workers' skin of hands or in any of the air samples. Only four out of the 15 bed sheets from patients that were treated with antineoplastic drugs appeared to be contaminated with detectable levels of antineoplastic drugs before the washing procedure (range 13.0-3,060 ng/100 cm(2)). After the pre-washing and after the complete washing procedure, no detectable levels of any of the eight antineoplastic drugs were found anymore in the selected bed sheets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of guidelines for working with antineoplastic drugs seems to be successful in reducing exposure to antineoplastic drugs of workers in this laundry facility to an acceptable, non-detectable level and to remove antineoplastic drug contamination from bed linen.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands. w.fransman@iras.uu.nl
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fransman
authors.forename: Daan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huizer
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuerk
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kromhout
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007846:Laundering; D009426:Netherlands; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents