Evaluation of Occupational Exposure to Antiblastic Drugs in an Italian Hospital OncologicalDepartment: Loredana CASTIGLIA, et al. Department of Public Medicine and Social Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy-The determination of the current antiblastic drug contamination levels in an Italian hospital oncology ward was carried out. Statistical evaluation of data aiming to identify potential exposure causes was performed. Cyclophosphamide (CP), ifosfamide (IF) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were determined by wipe tests, extracted with diatomaceous earths and quantified by GC/MSMS or HPLC/UV. Data were analysed with respect to the potential contamination levels of sampled surfaces, and various amounts of handled analyte. χ 2 tests and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. Median concentration levels of 0.086, 0.071, 2.363 µg/dm 2 were obtained, (CP, IF, 5-FU, respectively). 3.8 and 13.5% of investigated surfaces showed CP and IF concentrations higher than 1 µg/dm 2 (up to 26.96 µg/ dm 2 ) and 13.4% of samples contained 5-FU concentrations in the range 20-208.9 µg/dm 2 . Analytes' concentration levels were dependent on sampling sites, with significant correlations showing a progressive contamination decrement going from workbenches, floor, hood planes and other surfaces. A diffuse contamination (traces of all the three analytes) was found on all investigated surfaces, even when analytes had not been used during the sampling days. A significant correlation (ρs=0.303, p=0.001) between the measured analyte concentration and the analyte handled amount was found only in the case of IF. The risk management strategy should be improved, as suggested by the measured and widespread levels of contamination. Since contamination also depends on other factors attributable to working modalities and cleaning procedures, the obtained results suggest that performance of specific training courses as well as scheduling environmental monitoring plans to achieve an actual decrement of the observed contamination levels should be implemented. (J Occup Health 2008; 50: 48-56)

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Rapamycin is a potent immunosuppressive drug capable of significantly reducing acute graft rejection in kidney, liver and heart transplant patients. Its immunosuppressive activity and adverse effects have been related to rapamycin concentration, and therapeutic drug monitoring of the drug is deemed appropriate. This work was aimed at developing a new quantification method based on the isolation of the [M+Na]+ ion as precursor and its further fragmentation through an ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.7 ng/mL was obtained, while the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 2.4 ng/mL. The accuracy and reproducibility of the responses were evaluated and compared with results obtained when the [M+NH4]+ ion was chosen as the precursor in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. In this case the LOD was 0.5 ng/mL and the LLOQ 1.7 ng/mL. Data showed that it would be possible to use the quantification of the sodiated species for the routine determination of rapamycin, as an alternative to the commonly adopted method based on the ammoniated complex.