By James A. Jorgenson, RPh, MS, FASHP

CHEMOTHERAPY AGENTS CAN BE OF great benefit to the health of cancer patients. However, they pose serious risks to the health care workers that handle them. In addition to the attention given to these risks by the NIOSH Hazardous Drug Alert, several clinical studies have shown that leakage during the preparation and administration of these drugs leads to the contamination of laminar airflow workbenches, biological safety cabinets, and drug vials, to name a few. Studies have also found traces of cytostatic agents in health care workers’ urine. Exposure to these hazardous agents can potentially lead to liver damage, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and skin cancer, as well as miscarriages and birth defects in the children of those exposed. Fortunately, there are mechanisms health care workers can use to reduce or prevent such harmful exposure.

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