DNA-DAMAGE IN NURSES HANDLING ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS

In 91 nurses from several divisions of four hospitals in Germany the g enotoxic effect caused by the occupational exposure presumably due to mixing of antineoplastic agents was investigated. The amount of DNA si ngle strand breaks and alkali labile sites in the peripheral mononucle ar blood cells of the nurses was measured using the alkaline elution m ethod. In ten nurses handling antineoplastic agents not using recommen ded safety precautions such as safety hoods, gloves or surgical masks a 50% higher level of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites (p < 0 .005; U-test) was detected compared to 54 controls. After applying rec ommended safety precautions a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.01) in the level of DNA strand breaks to the level of controls was o bserved. In other nurses handling antineoplastic agents by using adequ ate safety equipment no significantly different amount of DNA strand b reaks compared to that of controls was detected. No significant correl ation between the level of DNA strand breaks and the weekly contact fr equency, the life-time exposure to antineoplastic agents, or the time elapsed since the last handling of the drugs was found in this study.