Reproductive health risks associated with occupational exposures to antineoplastic drugs in health care settings: a review of the evidence

Publié le 04 mai 2016 • Catégorie(s) : En accès libre, Risques chimiques • Mot(s) clef(s) : grossesse, médicaments dangereux

Auteur      Thomas H. Connor
Auteur      Christina C. Lawson
Auteur      Martha Polovich
Auteur      Melissa A. McDiarmid
Volume      56
Numéro      9
Pages      901-910
Publication      Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
ISSN      1536-5948
Date      Sep 2014
Résumé      OBJECTIVES: Antineoplastic drugs are known reproductive and developmental toxicants. Our objective was to review the existing literature of reproductive health risks to workers who handle antineoplastic drugs. METHODS: A structured literature review of 18 peer-reviewed, English language publications of occupational exposure and reproductive outcomes was performed. RESULTS: Although effect sizes varied with study size and population, occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs seems to raise the risk of both congenital malformations and miscarriage. Studies of infertility and time to pregnancy also suggested an increased risk for subfertility. CONCLUSIONS: Antineoplastic drugs are highly toxic in patients receiving treatment, and adverse reproductive effects have been well documented in these patients. Health care workers with long-term, low-level occupational exposure to these drugs also seem to have an increased risk of adverse reproductive outcomes. Additional precautions to prevent exposure should be considered.