Quantification of urinary mutagens in nurses during potential antineoplastic agent exposure: A pilot study with concurrent environmental and dietary control

Antineoplastic agents can be carcinogenic, mutagenic, and in some instances teratogenic. The purpose of this study was to quantify urinary mutagenicity of seven nurses who administer antineoplastic agents. In addition, an attempt was made to control for extraneous variables, such as various dietary mutagenic substances, including coffee, alcohol, barbecued meat, etc., and various environmental substances, such as paint fumes, fireplace smoke, gas fumes, cigarette smoke, etc., which may have effected the degree of mutagenic activity in the urine. Other studies controlled for a few of these substances. This study, however, attempted to control for most of the dietary substances that are currently known to be mutagenic as well as many potentially mutagenic environmental substances. There was a statistically significant decrease in mutagenicity after diet modification and a statistically significant increase after antineoplastic handling. One subject taking Dilantin exhibited significant mutagenic ratios in all three samples and was removed from the analyses. Three of the remaining seven samples collected after antineoplastic administration exhibited mutagenicity. This study provided the baseline data for further research currently being conducted in the area of occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents.