Analysis of sister chromatid exchange and micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes of nurses handling cytostatic drugs

The genotoxic effect of occupational exposure of 20 nurses who handled cytostatic drugs in medical oncology and haematology units was evaluated by micronucleus and sister chromatid exchange test. The duration of employment in the units and of exposure to cytostatics ranged from 1 to 31 years. The exposed nurses manifested an increase in cells with micronuclei as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Nurses exposed to cytostatic drugs for 20-31 years showed a higher frequency of micronuclei (P < 0.05), whereas there was no difference in frequencies between the control group and the group exposed for 1-14 years (P > 0.05). The influence of the exposure period proved to be a significant parameter for the micronucleus test. No statistically significant differences were observed in sister chromatid exchange (P > 0.05).