title: Testing the degradation effects of three reagents on various antineoplastic compounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies for decontamination of antineoplastic compounds have been conducted for decades. Nevertheless, recent studies indicate the contamination of work place in hospitals, and the exposure of workers. In this study, to develop an effective cleaning method for contaminated environments, the degradation efficacies of antineoplastic compounds by reagents were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The degradation efficacies of various combinations of three reagents (sodium hypochlorite, sodium thiosulfate, and sodium hydroxide) were evaluated with four antineoplastic compounds (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, cisplatin, and carboplatin). The residues of antineoplastic compounds were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the three reagents, sodium hypochlorite was the most effective to all antineoplastic compounds used in this study. Although sodium hypochlorite degraded 86.6% of cyclophosphamide, it degraded other three antineoplastic compounds completely. The combination with sodium hypochlorite and sodium thiosulfate degraded only 3.3% of cyclophosphamide, since sodium thiosulfate inhibited the degradation ability of sodium hypochlorite. Similarly, the combinations used in all three reagents failed to degrade cyclophosphamide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although three of four antineoplastic compounds were degraded successfully, any combinations of three reagents could not degrade cyclophosphamide completely. However, the addition of sodium thiosulfate which inhibits the corrosion of metal by sodium hypochlorite is essential for daily cleaning. Therefore, the evaluation of reaction time before the addition of sodium thiosulfate may be required. We will continue to investigate the reagents for degradation.
authors.affiliation: Studies of Medical System Management, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan goma-h@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gohma
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Laboratory, NIPRO CORPORATION, Kusatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Representative director, MS Dream Co., Ltd, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.affiliation: Studies of Medical System Management, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugiura
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004340:Drug Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000032:analysis; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000032:analysis*; D013885:Thiosulfates / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013885:Thiosulfates; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; C017717:sodium thiosulfate
keywords: Antineoplastic drugs; cleaning; contamination; degradation