CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRATIONS IN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES OF NURSES AND PHYSICIANS HANDLING ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS

The frequencies of structural chromosome aberrations of persons occupa tionally exposed to antineoplastic drugs without adequate protection w ere measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 106 persons from five oncological units and in an adequate control population. The observed chromosomal aberration frequencies were 3.3 +/- 0.1 aberrations per 10 0 cells in the exposed group and 0.6 +/- 0.1 aberrations per 100 cells in the controls. Chromosomal aberration frequencies were not correlat ed with age, duration of exposure and smoking habits. The results stre ss the necessity to protect hospital staff against the potential risk related to the handling of antineoplastic drugs.