subject: Occupational Exposures to hazardous Drugs and Their Disastrous consequences on the Mankind [print this page] The drugs that are used for the manufacturing of medicines can be a boon or a curse to the mankind. The exposures to hazardous drugs are highly disastrous and can induce innumerable health hazards to the workers indulged in all sorts of drug related activities. These health hazards can be of short term as well as long term. According to various recent reports, the patients are also severely affected by these hazardous drugs. The professionals and the health-care workers engaged in different drug related activities are the major victims of these perilous drugs.
Exposures to hazardous drugs can take place during the production procedures as well as other drug related activities such as drug development, handling, administration, transport, storage, distribution, disposal, waste management and treatment etc. These perilous exposures can cause innumerable health hazards. Skin and eye problems, infections and various types of allergies are some of the short term health hazards caused by these noxious agents. The long term effects include respiratory and reproductive disorders, chromosomal aberrations, congenital malformations, sterility, and loss of eyesight, leukemia and cancer.
National Safety Council (NSC) says that the healthcare workers take around 41% more leave because of illness and other injuries as compared to the workers engaged in other industries. To shun these situations, safety measures and equipments should be implemented properly in all the workplaces. Antineoplastic and cytotoxic agents are the basic components of the hazardous drugs. These agents are highly noxious so apposite care should be taken while handling of these drugs. Accidental spills and leakages can take place during any of the drug related activities and can badly contaminate the surroundings. These contaminations can severely affect the living organisms.
Occupational Exposures to hazardous Drugs and Their Disastrous consequences on the Mankind
