Evaluation of Genotoxicity Risk in Health Care Workers Exposed to Antineoplastic Drugs

Abstract

Objective: DNA damage that can be caused by workplace exposure to antineoplastic drugs in health workers has been shown in many scientific studies. It is aimed to evaluate whether the risk of genotoxicity in health workers decreases after the regulations and measures taken by national and international health authorities in our work. Methods: For this purpose, DNA damage was assessed by using alkaline comet technique in lymphocytes isolated from blood samples of health workers (n=29) who were involved in preparing and / or administering antineoplastic agent at Trakya University Health Research and Application Center and compared with the control group (n=30). Also, those who prepare and/or administer antineoplastic agents; (n=16) and manual (n=13) preparations. Results: As a result of the evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference between health personnel and control group in preparing and / or administering antineoplastic agent (p>0,05, Mann-Whitney U) and there was no difference in the genotoxic risk between preparation forms. Furthermore, when the exposed control group was assessed for DNA damage as smokers and nonsmokers, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of DNA damage (p>0.05). Conclusion: At the center where our samples were taken, the resulting measures resulted in the control of the risk of genotoxicity due to occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents.

The Oxidative Stress Parameters as Useful Tools in Evaluating the DNA Damage and Changes in the Complete Blood Count in Hospital Workers Exposed to Low Doses of Antineoplastic Drugs and Ionizing Radiation

“…In our study, we noticed the insignificantly increased DNA damage in a group of workers exposed to ANTNP in comparison to non-exposed volunteers. The recorded result is in accordance with many studies in which, besides MN test, DNA damage was confirmed by chromosomal aberration, sister chromatid exchange and comet assays [22][23][24]. This result, as well as conclusions of our previous study on the same group of hospital workers [3] could be explained in relation to the protective equipment (gloves, masks, goggles and cabin) that was not used adequately to completely prevent exposure to genotoxic xenobiotics [22].…”

The Comet Assay as a Tool in Human Biomonitoring Studies of Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Chemicals—A Systematic Scoping Review

“…From the 21 articles read in full, 2 were excluded because they did not present comet assay data. Nineteen studies of occupational exposure [ 12 , 16 , 191 , 196 , 200 , 201 , 202 , 203 , 204 , 205 , 206 , 207 , 208 , 209 , 210 , 211 , 212 , 213 , 214 ] remained for qualitative analysis, as summarised in Figure 3 and Table 3 .…”

“…The results of studies on the genotoxic effects of antineoplastic drugs using the comet assay in occupationally exposed workers are inconsistent, but a slightly positive association exists. Overall, 13 studies (68.4%) showed a statistically significant increase in DNA damage in the exposed group compared with the controls [ 12 , 191 , 200 , 201 , 202 , 203 , 204 , 205 , 206 , 208 , 211 , 212 , 213 , 214 ]. Ursini (2006) showed positive results for both biological matrices under study—lymphocytes and buccal cells [ 201 ].…”

Percepciones sobre la gestión, exposición, bioseguridad y manipulación de citostáticos en el personal de enfermería de una institución de salud privada de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

“…Para la mayoría de los citostáticos, se postula una curva dosis-respuesta lineal para los efectos genotóxicos, sin un efecto de dosis umbral perceptible (efectos de tipo estocástico). (10,18) En 2011, en el Centro Oncológico de Egipto, se muestrearon 28 trabajadores expuestos a citostáticos, entre farmacéuticos y enfermeras, y se evidenció que el número de linfocitos aberrantes, así como la aberración cromosómica y las frecuencias de micronúcleos, fueron significativamente mayores en el personal expuesto en comparación con los controles pareados. En comparación con los farmacéuticos, las enfermeras mostraron notablemente mayor nivel de daño cromosómico.…”