title: Evaluation of antineoplastic drug exposure of health care workers at three university-based US cancer centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated health care worker exposure to antineoplastic drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study examined environmental samples from pharmacy and nursing areas. A 6-week diary documented tasks involving those drugs. Urine was analyzed for two specific drugs, and blood samples were analyzed by the comet assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight exposed and 53 nonexposed workers were studied. Exposed workers recorded 10,000 drug-handling events during the 6-week period. Sixty percent of wipe samples were positive for at least one of the five drugs measured. Cyclophosphamide was most commonly detected, followed by 5-fluorouracil. Three of the 68 urine samples were positive for one drug. No genetic damage was detected in exposed workers using the comet assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite following recommended safe-handling practices, workplace contamination with antineoplastic drugs in pharmacy and nursing areas continues at these locations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA. tmc6@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: D Gayle
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: DeBord
authors.forename: Jack R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pretty
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Tracy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Peter S J
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: Edward F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Carmen P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Escalante
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Toennis
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Belinda C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McDiarmid
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D016272:Occupational Health; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents