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Annals of Occupational Hygiene Advance Access originally published online on May 27, 2009
Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2009 53(5):485-490; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep029
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society

Exposure to Hazardous Substances in a Standard Molecular Biology Laboratory Environment: Evaluation of Exposures in IARC Laboratories

Brigitte Chapot*, Béatrice Secretan, Annie Robert and Pierre Hainaut

International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33-(0)4-72-73-85-13; fax: +33-(0)4-72-73-83-22; e-mail: chapot{at}iarc.fr

Working in a molecular biology laboratory environment implies regular exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances. Several recent studies have shown that laboratory workers may have an elevated risk of certain cancers. Data on the nature and frequency of exposures in such settings are scanty. The frequency of use of 163 agents by staff working in molecular biology laboratories was evaluated over a period of 4 years by self-administered questionnaire. Of the agents listed, ethanol was used by the largest proportion of staff (70%), followed by ethidium bromide (55%). Individual patterns of use showed three patterns, namely (i) frequent use of a narrow range of products, (ii) occasional use of a wide range of products, and (iii) frequent and occasional use of an intermediate range of products. Among known or suspected carcinogens (International Agency for Research on Cancer Group 1 and 2A, respectively), those most frequently used included formaldehyde (17%), oncogenic viruses (4%), and acrylamide (32%). The type of exposure encountered in research laboratories is extremely diverse. Few carcinogenic agents are used frequently but many laboratory workers may be exposed occasionally to known human carcinogens. In addition, many of the chemicals handled by staff represent a health hazard. The results enabled the staff physician to develop an individual approach to medical surveillance and to draw a personal history of occupational exposures for laboratory staff.

Keywords: carcinogens • molecular biology research • occupational exposure

Received October 14, 2008; in final form March 30, 2009


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