Urinary cyclophosphamide excretion and micronuclei frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes and in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells of nurses handlingantineoplastics

In this study, urinary cyclophosphamide (CP) excretion rate, as well as mic ronuclei (MN) in peripheral lymphocytes and in buccal epithelial cells were determined for 26 nurses handling antineoplastics and 14 referents matched for age and sex. In urine samples of 20 out of 25 exposed nurses CP excret ion rate was found in a range of 0.02-9.14 mu g CP/24 h. Our results of the analyses of CP in urine demonstrates that when the nurses were handling CP (and other antineoplastic drugs) this particular compound was observed in urine. The mean values (+/-SD) of MN frequencies (%) in peripheral lymphocy tes from the nurses and controls were 0.61 (+/- 0.32) and 0.28 (+/- 0.16), respectively (p < 0.01). The mean value (+/- SD) of MN frequency (%) in buc cal epithelial cells of nurses was 0.16 (+/- 0.19) and also mean MN frequen cy in buccal epithelial cells for controls was found to be as 0.08 (+/- 0.0 8), (p > 0.05). Age, sex and smoking habits have not influenced the paramet ers analyzed in this study. Handling time of antineoplastics, use of protec tive equipment and handling frequency of drugs have no effect on urinary an d cytogenetic parameters analyzed. No correlation was found between the uri nary CP excretion and the cytogenetic findings in nurses. Neither could we find any relationship between two cytogenetic endpoints. Our results have i dentified the possible genotoxic damage of oncology nurses related to occup ational exposure to at least one antineoplastic agent, which is used as a m arker for drug handling. As a whole, there is concern that the present hand ling practices of antineoplastic drugs used in the several hospitals in Ank ara will not be sufficient to prevent exposure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.