URINARY THIOETHER EXCRETION IN NURSES AT AN ONCOLOGIC DEPARTMENT

Abstract
The excretion of thioethers was determined in urine of nurses who were handling cytotoxic drugs. An occupationally non-exposed group served as control. The results showed a significant difference in urinary thioether excretion between the exposed and control persons (PP0.05). In conclusion, smoking nurses handling cytostatic drugs, have a greater risk than non-smoking colleagues and protective intervention methods should be used by smoking as well as non-smoking hospital employees.