A occupational preventive health care of workers at risk of cytostatic drugs in the Faculty Hospital Hradec Králové

Summary

Manipulation with cytostatic drugs and their aplication to patients causes contamination of external environment and long-term professional exposure in health care staff. Carcinogenic, teratogenic effects and reproduction and system toxicity are the possible consequences of the exposure. The method of cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes (CAPL) which detects structural and numerical aberations in cultivated peripheral lymphocytes is used as a biomarker of the early biological effect of mutagenic and carcinogenic substances.

In 2006, 2008 and 2010, 150 individuals were examined using the CAPL method in the Faculty Hospital Hradec Králové. The mean values of the number of chromosomal aberrations were 3.04 %, 3.79 % and 3.41 % in respective years indicating increased exposure to genotoxic substances. The lowest values were found in employees of the hospital pharmacy (2.94 %) and the lung clinic (3.04 %). Higher values were found in employees of children hematooncology (3.64 %) and the clinic of oncology and radiotherapy (3.62 %). Higher values were found in smokers compared to nonsmokers. Results are considered as a nonspecific complex indicator influenced with a number of factors (level of exposure, activity of reparatory mechanisms, activity of immune system, susceptibility to genotoxic substances, life style factors, etc.). It is necessary to take measures to decrease the exposure of employees in order to reduce health risks.

Key words:
cytostatic drugs, facility health care, cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes, chromosomal aberrations, health care system