Studies
Please find here below the important research we have found, which has been published already with the aim of increasing occupational safety and protecting caregivers from hazardous medicinal products.
The Hazardous Drug and Waste Clinical Guidance 2023
Here is the most recent guidance from the EU Commission and NHS, HSE and the US on the safe management of hazardous drugs and waste: European Commission Guidance for the Safe Management of Hazardous Medicinal Products 2023
The following abstracts and studies have been carried out in 2022-2023:
FRANCE
Four-year follow-up of surface contamination by antineoplastic drugs in a compounding unit
Univ Lille, Lille, France March 2023
Read the study here
Impact of low- and high-risk operators handling irinotecan on the blood contamination of health care workers in oncology day care units.
Normandie Université UNICAEN, CHU de Caen Normandie, Pharmacie Centrale, 14000 Caen, France April 5th 2022
Read the study here
ITALY
A LC-MS/MS based methodology for the environmental monitoring of healthcare settings contaminated with antineoplastic agents
Italy (Campania) March 2023
Read the study here
SWEDEN
Pilot study: External surface contamination of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil on drug packaging
March 2023 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Read the study here
UK
Explore the perception of nurses about potential occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs
Campbell et al Napier University Edinburgh and UKONS (UK Oncology Nursing Society) ongoing study 2022 to 2024, United Kingdom
BELGIUM
P-98 Environmental contamination with and internal occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents and evaluation of genotoxic and epigenetic effects thereof
Belgium Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Belgium March 2023
Read the study here
GERMANY
Occupational Safety and Health at work.
Germany June 2023 Department for Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Public Health, German Social Accident Insurance, Institution for the health and welfare services (BGW), Hamburg, Germany
Read the study here.
„Employers are legally obliged to provide a safe working environment for all of their employees and should assess and diminish health risks to a level that is accepted by society. Workers have a legal duty to protect their own safety and health and that of their co-workers within the pharmacy or organisation. In this chapter, we address both employers and workers obligations in the light of the European regulatory framework on occupational safety and health. The strategies for preventing or minimising risks are discussed, including the use of collective (containment, ventilation) and personal protective equipment such as gloves and respirators.”
PORTUGAL
The occupational risks and health effects resulting from exposition to cytotoxic drugs preparation
Portugal March 2023
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A simple and inexpensive method to monitor and minimize exposure from manipulation of cytotoxic drugs
Portugal May 2023
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Blood molecular profile to predict genotoxicity from exposure to antineoplastic drugs
Portugal 18th August 2023
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Characterization of education, technical practices and attitudes of Portuguese pharmacy technicians towards manipulation of cytotoxic drugs
Portugal March 2023
Read the study here
SPAIN
Occupational Exposure to Inhalational Anesthetics and Teratogenic Effects: A Systematic Review
Spain February 2023
Read the study here
CZECH REPUBLIC
Chromosomal damage in occupationally exposed health professionals assessed by two cytogenetic methods
Czech Republic, Sept 2022
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Proposals of guidance values for surface contamination by antineoplastic drugs based on long term monitoring in Czech and Slovak hospitals and pharmacies.
Read the study here
SERBIA
Biological response to the continuous occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs and radionuclides
Serbia 7th August 2023
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TURKEY
Association between self-reported menstrual disorders and occupational exposures in female healthcare workers: a university hospital experience from Turkey
Turkey 7th July
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Thiol disulfide homeostasis in ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic drug exposure
„As far as we know, the current findings first demonstrate an apparent chronic oxidative stress in the subjects who were occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs and radiation even if annual radiation exposure dose measurements are normal.’
February 2023
Read the study here
AUSTRALIA
Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Positio Statement: 2022 update to the safe handling of monoclonal antibodies in healthcare setting.
Australia March 2023
Read the study here
USA
Occupational Cancers among Employed Women: A Narrative Review
Italy & US – February 2023. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, New York, NY 11794, US
Read the study here
Sequential Wipe Testing for Hazardous Drugs: A Quality Improvement Project
USA Seth Eisenberg June 2023
Sequential Wipe Testing for Hazardous Drugs: A Quality Improvement Project | ONS
Pregnancy Curriculum: Advocating for a Healthier Pregnancy in General Surgery Residency
USA September 1st 2023 Helene M. Sterbling MA, MD Inova Health System, Department of Surgery, Falls Church, Virginia
Read the study here
Oncology Infusion Nurses’ Personal Protective Equipment Use While Handling Hazardous Drugs
USA Providence St Joseph Health April 2023
Read the study here
CANADA
Safe handling of hazardous drugs
Canada November 2023 , Cancer Services, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario,
Read the study here
Biological Monitoring via Urine Samples to Assess Healthcare Workers’ Exposure to Hazardous Drugs: A Scoping Review
Hon, Motiwala 2022, School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto
Read the study here
Pregnancy, obstetrical and neonatal outcomes in women exposed to physician-related occupational hazards: a scoping review
– Alberta Feb 2023
Read the study here
Canadian monitoring program of the surface contamination with 11 antineoplastic drugs in 122 centers
Canada March 2023
Read the study here
JAPAN
Duration of sweat cyclophosphamide excretion in patients undergoing a conditioning regimen of high-dose cyclophosphamide for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation
Japan – Showa Pharmaceutical University January 2022
Read the study here
CHINA
Influence of occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents on adverse pregnancy outcomes among nurses: A meta-analysis
China May 2023
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Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Assessment of Hazardous Substances in the Workplace
China June 2023
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Management guidelines for preventing exposure to antineoplastics
China Feb 2023
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Editorial: Qualitative and quantitative risk assessment of hazardous substances in the workplace
China May 2023
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Assessing floor contamination by antineoplastic agents in a Japanese medical institution specializing in cancer treatmen
Japan Department of Pharmacy, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi,
Read the study here
KOREA
Cancer Incidence in Korean Healthcare Workers in Hospitals,
Korea February 2023
Read the study here
Occupational Exposure during Intraperitoneal Pressurized Aerosol Chemotherapy Using Doxorubicin in a Pig Model
Korea September 2022
Occupational Exposure during Intraperitoneal Pressurized Aerosol Chemotherapy Using Doxorubicin in a Pig Model – ScienceDirect
BRAZIL
Role of oncological nursing in stroke of antineoplastic drugs, Brazil February 2023
Read the study here
Antineoplastic drugs in environmentally relevant concentrations cause endocrine disruption and testicular dysfunction in experimental conditions
Brazil April 2023
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ARGENTINA
Initial assessment of multi-compound antineoplastic drug surface contamination in Argentinean healthcare centers: Insights into occupational exposures in South America
Argentina July 2023
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CHILE
Carcinogenic drug exposure among health-sector workers: the need for exposure assessment and surveillance
Chile March 2023
Read the study here
IRAN
Development and psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire for assessment of exposure to chemical hazards in operating room nurses
Operating room – but still relevant as antineoplastics used – and how are operating staff possibly pushing for and attaining greater protections yest oncology nurses are still overlooked?? Departmental budgets, awareness and staff attitudes…
EGYPT
Evaluation of Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs and Potential Occupational Risk among Health Care Workers in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, Egypt January 2023
Read the study here
MAROCCO
Risk assessment of personnel exposure in a central cytotoxic preparation unit using the FMECA method
Morocco January 2023
Read the study here