The genotoxic risk in health care workers occupationally exposed to cytotoxic drugs--a comprehensive evaluation by the SCE assay.
Present study aimed at an integral assessment of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in the health care workers occupationally exposed to cytostatics. The results of 500 individual analyses were evaluated. Drug handling practice was investigated in parallel and the results showed that cytostatics are mostly prepared outside hospital pharmacy (98%) and mainly handled by nurses (96%). Mean frequency of SCE was 5.63 +/- 2.28, while HFC represented 9.65% of the cells analysed. Both values were higher compared to previously established control values for Croatian population. The duration of exposure, profession, age, gender, smoking habit, medical exposures, and simultaneous exposure to other occupational mutagens significantly contributed to SCE and HFC values. The usefulness both biomarkers in the assessment of cytogenetic damage is confirmed. Since current practice in Croatian hospitals does not include regular monitoring of workplaces, to ensure maximal occupational safety, a surveillance on exposed health care workers, including periodic biomonitoring, is recommended.
Kopjar
Nevenka
N
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia. nkopjar@imi.hr
Kasuba
Vilena
V
Rozgaj
Ruzica
R
Zeljezic
Davor
D
Milic
Mirta
M
Ramic
Snjezana
S
Pavlica
Vesna
V
Milkovic-Kraus
Sanja
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009153:Mutagens