The genotoxic risk of hospital, pharmacy and medical personnel occupationally exposed to cytostatic drugs--evaluation by the micronucleus assay.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of cytostatic drugs in hospital and pharmacy employees ( n =100), occupationally exposed. The micronucleus assay was used to study lymphocytes in 247 peripheral blood samples. Samples were collected at “baseline level” without any cytostatic drugs exposure before recruiting or after at least 3 weeks without cytostatic drugs contact and at three times (cycle 1–3) post-exposure. Samples from 60 office employees served as controls. Furthermore, our results were compared to urinary analyses of cytostatic drugs (oxazaphosporines, anthracyclines, platinum) which were collected in parallel to the cytogenetic investigation. Statistical analyses were performed under consideration of age, gender and X-ray exposure. The frequency of micronuclei was significantly related to the age of the subjects ( r Spearman =0.16; P