Occupational exposure to cytotoxics is a serious issue within the pharmaceutical and compounding industry and is likely to occur when control measures are limited. The types of activities that put operators, pharmacists and laboratory staff at most risk are drug preparation and cleaning up residues and spills.
One of the key challenges posed by cytotoxics is that as well as being difficult to remove from surfaces and equipment they can continue to present a risk directly as waste. It is therefore essential that the right procedures and products are implemented to ensure contamination is kept to an absolute minimum.
Data collection and actions to identify and remedy exposure levels of cytotoxic drugs are on the increase
Under UK Health & Safety Executive Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations (COSHH), there needs to be comprehensive assessment of the risks arising from handling cytotoxic drugs at every stage of use and disposal. Control and monitoring of the effects of exposure has been studied in detail with a range of biological endpoints, including DNA damage, HPRT mutations and thioether excretion, which highlight the seriousness of this issue.
Not yet a Subscriber?
This is a small extract of the full article which is available ONLY to premium content subscribers. Click below to get premium content on Cleanroom Technology.
Subscribe now Already a subscriber? Sign in here.