The evaluation of genotoxic effects in operating room personnel of pediatric surgery with micronucleus method

It is well known that healthcare workers in the operating room are exposed to genotoxic effects due to waste anesthetic gases in the operating room. The maximum levels of inhalation anesthetics are detected in ear nose throat and pediatric surgery theatres. The aim of this study is to investigate the genotoxic effects due to occupational exposure of pediatric surgery operating room personnel by micro nucleus method.This study was performed in children?s hospitals in 30 operating room personnel (13 anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians, 10 operating room nurses, 7 operating room worker). In the same hospital age, gender, body mass index, alcohol and cigarette consumption matching 30 workers from other parts of hospital were chosen as control group. After applying all applicants a survey about investigating situations increasing genotoxic effect, buccal epithel samples were collected. Microscopic evaluation was performed after staining for micro nucleus method.In operating room group micro nucleus frequency was significantly increased compared to contol group (p<0.05). In subjects younger than 35 year micro nucleus frequency was significantly increased compared to control group (p = 0.009). The micro nucleus frequency of anesthesiologists and technicians were significantly higher than control group (p = 0.034). In the non smoking operating room group, micro nucleus frequency was higher than non smoking control group (p=0.007). The frequency of micro nucleus were not related with gender, alcohol, exposure period and working conditions between the groups (p>0.05).In this study, genotoxic effects were observed in pediatric surgery operating room personel especially in young anesthesiology personnel.