Chromosomal abnormalities among nurses occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs.

The effect of handling antineoplastic drugs was examined in 42 nurses working in an oncology department, and the same number of nurses not exposed to antineoplastic drugs acted as controls. The exposure effect was evaluated by analysis of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) incidence and structural chromosomal abnormalities. SCE as well as chromosomal abnormalities in the exposed group were increased (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01, respectively). Sign test for paired sample was used for statistical assessment.