Exposure to chemical mixtures in occupational settings: a reality in oncology day services?

Antineoplastic drugs are essential to cancer treatment. Its widespread use in hospitals leads to an increased probability of occupational exposure of the healthcare professionals that manipulate the drugs. The fact that chemotherapy involves administration of multiple drugs only amplifies the problem resulting in the possible occupational exposure to a misture of these chemicals.The aim of this study was to determine the surfaces contamination by antineoplastic drugs in one Oncology Day Service and understand if it promotes exposure to chemical mixtures. Selected workplaces surfaces were wipe-sampled. 5-Fluorouracil, Paclitaxel (TM) and Cyclophosphamide in the samples were simultaneously analyzed by HPLC-DAD. Of the 45 collected samples, 4.4% were not contaminated, 40% presented contamination by only one drug and 55.6% showed contamination by more than one drug. The study allows the recognition that workers are exposed to mixtures of drugs. Interactions between drugs can be a reality and this justifies further research to support a cumulative risk assessment.