DNA damage and antioxidant status in medical residents occupationally exposed to waste anesthetic gases

Abstract

PURPOSE:To investigate the effects of occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases on genetic material and antioxidant status in professionals during their medical residency. METHODS:The study group consisted of 15 medical residents from Anesthesiology and Surgery areas, of both genders, mainly exposed to isoflurane and to a lesser degree to sevoflurane and nitrous oxide; the control group consisted of 15 young adults not exposed to anesthetics. Blood samples were drawn from professionals during medical residency (eight, 16 and 22 months of exposure to waste anesthetic gases). DNA damage was evaluated by comet assay, and antioxidant defense was assessed by total thiols and the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). RESULTS:When comparing the two groups, DNA damage was significantly increased at all time points evaluated in the exposed group; plasma thiols increased at 22 months of exposure and GPX was higher at 16 and 22 months of exposure.CONCLUSION: Young professionals exposed to waste anesthetic gases in operating rooms without adequate scavenging system have increased DNA damage and changes in redox status during medical residency. There is a need to minimize exposure to inhalation anesthetics and to provide better work conditions.

High concentrations of waste anesthetic gases induce genetic damage and inflammation in physicians exposed for three years: A cross‐sectional study

“…30 Controversial findings have already been reported regarding genotoxicity observed after a few months of exposure to waste anesthetic gases. 31,32 In the aforementioned papers, a study 31 had already reported increased DNA damage in physicians exposed for eight months to inhalational anesthetics in operating rooms without any scavenging systems compared to those in a nonexposed group. In addition, the physicians used far more inhalational anesthetics than intravenous anesthetics, and the anesthesia equipment was older; both factors certainly contributed to high levels of DNA damage, and no measurement of anesthetic concentrations in the workplace was performed.…”

Does occupational exposure to anesthetic gases lead to increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines?

“…IL-8 secretion is known to be increased by oxidative stress, which thereby causes the recruitment of inflammatory cells and induces a further increase in oxidant stress mediators, making it a key parameter in localized inflammation. Interestingly, medical residents occupationally exposed for \2 years to waste anesthetic gases have shown changes in oxidative stress markers, such as thiols and antioxidant enzymes [13].…”

Does Neuraxial Anesthesia as General Anesthesia Damage DNA? A Pilot Study in Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Traumatological Surgery

“…This study is a pilot study whose primary objective was to verify the feasibility of the method and with the secondary goal of verifying the hypothesis that neuraxial spinal anesthesia causes less damage to DNA than general anesthesia. Our results and results of the cited studies on patients undergoing surgery and on operating room staff [6,36] raise further questions for the prevention of DNA damage in both patients and operating room staff [38]. Notwithstanding, it is also difficult to assess the impact of surgical trauma on DNA integrity; we may assume it plays a minor role, as DNA damage after surgery was minimal in the SA group.…”

“…Recent studies have been published concerning the genotoxicity of inhalational anesthesia in patients who have undergone surgery and in personnel who are occupationally exposed to anesthetics. Even a trace concentration of waste anesthetic gases may lead to an increase in genetic damage [6,7].…”