Chemotherapy is being administered more and more commonly in veterinary clinics and, with this, comes exposure to hazardous medications. Technicians need to know what the risks are and how best to take precautions against contamination with these chemotherapeutic agents. Employee exposure to chemotherapeutic agents can lead to cancer, reproductive toxicity, birth defects, and diminished health. Potential activities for exposure include drug preparation and administration, janitorial duties, waste handling, and kennel/barn husbandry activities. This exposure may occur via inhalation, skin contact, oral ingestion or accidental injection. Dermal contact and absorption appears to be the primary route of exposure. Where the drug is not absorbed directlythrough the skin, the exposure may occur via hand to mouth contamination.
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