The Oxidative Stress Parameters as Useful Tools in Evaluating the DNA Damage and Changes in the Complete Blood Count in Hospital Workers Exposed to Low Doses of Antineoplastic Drugs and Ionizing Radiation

Jasminka Mrdjanović; Slavica Šolajić; Branislava Srđenović-Čonić; Višnja Bogdanović; Karaba-Jakovljević Dea; Nebojša Kladar; Vladimir Jurišić

doi:10.3390/ijerph18168445

The Oxidative Stress Parameters as Useful Tools in Evaluating the DNA Damage and Changes in the Complete Blood Count in Hospital Workers Exposed to Low Doses of Antineoplastic Drugs and Ionizing Radiation

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 10;18(16):8445. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168445.

Authors

Jasminka Mrdjanović¹, Slavica Šolajić¹, Branislava Srđenović-Čonić², Višnja Bogdanović¹, Karaba-Jakovljević Dea³, Nebojša Kladar², Vladimir Jurišić⁴

Affiliations

¹ Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia.
² Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
³ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
⁴ Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.

Abstract

Hospital workers at the Oncology Department are occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs (ANTNP) or low doses of ionizing radiation (Irrad). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of DNA damage, the oxidative stress parameters and complete blood count (CBC) of hospital workers in order to analyze the negative health effects of ANTNP and low dose Irrad. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) and proliferation index (PI) were analyzed by cytokinesis-block test. The oxidative stress biomarkers evaluated were the level of lipid peroxidation in plasma and catalase activity (CAT) in erythrocytes. A group of 86 hospital workers (35 exposed to ANTPN and 51 to Irrad) had increased MN frequency, CAT activity and level of lipid peroxidation compared to the control group, which consisted of 24 volunteers. The hemoglobin level was lower in the ANTNP group compared to thecontrol group, while a significant difference in RBC was recorded between thecontrol and Irrad groups, and in platelet count betweentheIrrad and ANTNP group. The results showed increased DNA damage, oxidative stress parameters, as well as impairment on complete blood count in hospital workers occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs and low-dose ionizing radiation. As this research has shown the importance of oxidative stress, we suggest that in addition to routine methods in periodic medical evaluation, the possibility of applying oxidative stress parameters is considered. Moreover, hospital workers exposed to ANTNP and Irrad in the workplace should undergo not only a more complete health prevention procedure but also have a more appropriate health promotion.

Keywords: antineoplastic drugs; catalase; complete blood count; health risk; ionizing radiation; micronuclei; occupational exposure; oxidative stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Agents*
Blood Cell Count
DNA Damage
Hospitals
Occupational Exposure*
Oxidative Stress
Radiation, Ionizing

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents