Uses & Products

Chemotherapeutic agents fight cancer through selective destruction of malignant cells and tissues. The therapeutic benefits of medications for patients typically outweigh any side effects experienced; however, nurses exposed to trace levels of untested combinations of drugs on a daily basis can suffer side effects without curative compensation. 264 drugs are currently available for cancer treatment, approved by FDA between 1949 and July 2006.

Health Concerns

Some chemotherapeutic medications cause cancer in lab animals; in addition, an epidemiological study of health care workers found higher rates of cancer in those exposed to chemotherapeutic agents.

Survey Findings

0 percent of more than 1,500 nurses surveyed reported on-the-job exposures. In our survey, nurses with frequent, long-term exposures to chemotherapeutic medications through preparation or administration (at least weekly for at least ten years) reported 42 percent higher rates of cancer than other nurses.

Exposure and disease frequencies provided represent responses from more than 1,500 nurses to an online survey concerning their job history, their health, and the health of their children. Analysis of these data show that nurses highly exposed to chemotherapeutic agents reported a number of health problems at higher rates than other nurses.

Note: This survey was not "controlled" — it was open to any nurse interested in responding. Therefore, it is not possible to cannot draw rigorous, scientific conclusions from the data. But the survey does show that many nurses exposed to chemicals and other hazards on the job are experiencing health problems. More research is critically needed.

Exposures are prevalent: 1,552 nurses & chemotherapeutic agents

0% are now or were ever exposed on the job

0% of nurses exposed while pregnant

0% of nurses exposed currently or over past 5 years

0% of nurses exposed routinely (at least once per week) for 10 years or more

Commonly reported health problems

Among the 0 nurses routinely exposed**:<

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SELECT distinct healthoutcome1to1.id FROM healthoutcome1to1,employ_exposure WHERE child_id=0 AND healthoutcome1to1.id=employ_exposure.id AND (diagnosis LIKE "dermatitis" or diagnosis LIKE "Contact Dermatitis") AND chemical IN ('chemotherapeutic','chemotherapeutic_prep') AND ( years_some + years_reg+years_day)>=10