An analysis of the health condition of personnel exposed to cytostatics at an oncology unit.

Attention was paid in this study to the evaluation of the health condition of the hospital personnel exposed to cytostatics at a specialized oncology unit, Faculty Hospital in Olomouc. Questionnaires and interviews were used to examine 44 exposed personnel of the oncology unit and a control group of 32 partners of these workers who held no risk jobs. The questionnaires were focused on personal, family and occupational histories. The exposed female workers were asked for detailed information concerning fertility. The occupational history contained data on the conditions for handling cytostatics. The group of 44 exposed workers were aged from 19 to 63 years, the average age being 34.8 years. There were 38 female and 6 male workers in the group under study. The majority of the group were nurses (23). The group further consisted of 7 physicians, 8 practical nurses, and 6 cleaners. Of importance to note is that the health nurses of the oncology unit were exposed to cytostatics for 8 or more hours daily. Almost half of the exposed health nurses belonged to the youngest age category (19 to 24 years). In the health personnel under study, an increased incidence of respiratory diseases, blood diseases, allergies, dermatological affections and eczema, and renal diseases was found. The smokers at the oncology unit (52.3%) outnumbered the non-smokers. The health condition of the 32 persons of the control group was more favourable, increased morbidity due to acute respiratory diseases and diseases of blood components were not seen. The average age of the control group was 41.9 years. It follows from the results obtained that it is necessary to monitor continuously the health condition of personnel exposed to cytostatics, particularly of those working at specialized oncology units where they are exposed to cytostatics throughout their working day. At these workplaces, effects of other unfavourable factors, such as radiation and microbial agents, which may enhance the unfavourable effects of cytostatics, should not be neglected.