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Urinary platinum in hospital personnel occupationally exposed to platinum-containing antineoplastic drugs

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Summary

Urinary platinum levels of 21 nurses and hospital pharmacy personnel occupationally exposed to platinum containing antineoplastic drugs were determined in 24-h urine by voltammetric analysis after UV photolysis. All study participants applied standard safety measures, including a vertical laminar air-flow cabinet and latex gloves. The amount of platinum-containing drugs prepared for intravenous application ranged from 40–3260 mg/day. Urinary platinum was detected in 9 of 52 urine samples collected on days when platinum-containing drugs were mixed (limit of determination 4 ng/1). In comparison with a non-exposed control group, elevated urinary platinum levels were found in one pharmacist (35 ng/g creatinine) and one pharmacy technician (28 ng/g ereatinine). The pharmacist's urinary plantinum remained elevated after 2 days without occupational exposure to anti-neoplastic drugs. The urinary platinum level of the pharmacy technician dropped considerably after several weeks without handling cytostatic drugs. Voltammetric detection of urinary platinum is a highly sensitive method suitable for biological and environmental monitoring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeitsmedizin der Universität München, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany

    Angela S. Ensslin, Angelika Pethran, Rudolf Schierl & Günter Fruhmann

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  1. Angela S. Ensslin
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  2. Angelika Pethran
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  3. Rudolf Schierl
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  4. Günter Fruhmann
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Ensslin, A.S., Pethran, A., Schierl, R. et al. Urinary platinum in hospital personnel occupationally exposed to platinum-containing antineoplastic drugs. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 65, 339–342 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405699

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405699

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