Measurement of surface contamination from nucleoside analogue antineoplastic drugs by high-performance liquid chromatography in occupational hygiene studies of oncologic hospital departments

Within the frame of a continuing interest in occupational hygiene of hospitals as workplaces, we describe an automated analytical method by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the measurement of contamination from the three most important nucleoside analogue antineoplastic drugs (5-fluorouracil, 5FU; cytarabin, CYA; gemcytabin, GCA) on such surfaces as those of preparation hoods and work-benches in departmental pharmacies of oncologic departments. Our method is characterized by a short analysis time (7 min) under isocratic conditions, by the use of a mobile phase devoid of organic solvent and by high sensitivity (LOD greater than or equal to 40 mu g/l for all compounds), adequate to detect surface contamination above a threshold of 4 mu g/m(2) for wide surfaces and of 30 mu g/m(2) for small irregular objects. We present some results from a preliminary survey study recently performed in seven oncologic departments of two large general hospitals in Milan. To exemplify the contamination levels on various surfaces (such as on handles, floor surfaces and window glass panes, even far from the preparation hood), analyte concentrations in the order of 0.03-0.06 mu g/ml, corresponding to 0.8-1.5 mu g of 5FU were measured on telephones, of 0.02-0.6 mu g/ml (0.85-28 mu g/m(2)) of CYA were measured on table boards, of 0.05-10.6 mu g/ml (1.2-1150 mu g/m(2)) of GCA on furniture and floors. Spillage fractions up to 1% of the employed ANDs (employed daily 5FU 7-13 g; CYA 0.1-7.1 g; GCA 0.2-5 g) are measured on the polyethylene-backed paper disposable cover sheet of the preparation hood. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.