G. Wiesner et al., High-level, but not low-level, occupational exposure to inhaled anesthetics is associated with genotoxicity in the micronucleus assay, ANESTH ANAL, 92(1), 2001, pp. 118-122
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
To minimize the possible health risks posed by waste anesthetic gases, the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends exp
osure limits. We investigated the genotoxicity of a previously established
occupational exposure exceeding these Limits (high-level exposure) and of o
ne within these limits (low-level exposure). Genotoxicity was assessed by t
he formation of micronucleated lymphocytes in 25 anesthetists and anestheti
c nurses of an Eastern European (High-Level Exposure Group) and a German (L
ow-Level Exposure Group) university hospital. Each exposed group was compar
ed with a group of nonexposed personnel of the same hospital. Compared with
its Control Group, there was an increased fraction of micronucleated lymph
ocytes per 1000 binucleated cells in the High-Level Exposure Group (median
14.0, range 9.0-26.7 vs median 11.3, range 3.2-19.4; P < 0.05) but not in t
he Low-Level Exposure Group (median 9.8, range 4.2-20.0 vs median 10.5, ran
ge 5.0-20.5). We conclude that a high-level exposure to inhaled anesthetics
is associated with an increase in chromosome damage, and measures are reco
mmended to decrease exposure levels. As evidenced by the formation of micro
nucleated lymphocytes, the threshold values recommended by NIOSH appear to
be safe.