WORK-ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE ON CYTOSTATICS-INDUCED GENOTOXICITY IN ONCOLOGIC NURSES

The aim of the study was to point out the influence of workplace condi tions on chromosomal damage incidence in nurses handling cytostatics. The study comprised two groups of 17 oncologic nurses each and the sam e number of matched controls. Sister chromatid exchange method (SCE) w as used for genotoxicity assessment. In the group of nurses provided w ith a safe working environment the SCE-frequency was insignificantly i ncreased when compared to the controls (p > 0.8), although wide SCE-ra nges were obtained By contrast, in the group of nurses provided with n either such an environment nor with the appropriate personal protectiv e equipment, the SCE-frequency was significantly higher not only compa red to the controls (p < 0.001), but also to the first test group (p < 0.001). (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.