Wipe sampling of antineoplastic drugs from workplace surfaces: A review of analytical methods and recommendations

Antineoplastic drugs (ADs) are primarily used to manage cancer and are becoming more prevalent as cancer cases increase globally. A primary route of exposure for workers administering these hazardous drugs is via dermal absorption from contact with contaminated surfaces. To assess the risk in a workplace, wipe sampling is used to inspect and assess suspect workplace surfaces (i.e., as a form of worker exposure and environmental monitoring). Despite widespread use of ADs, there are no standards or proficiency testing programs (at this time) for surface wipe sampling protocols specifically for residues that contain ADs. Current literature provides many different analytical methods developed by research groups for detecting one or more ADs in residue found in the workplace. These studies contain significant variability in the techniques and materials used and, therefore, also vary in their outcomes. This review highlights the variability observed in the results obtained from current methods and points to opportunities that might assist in addressing these inconsistencies towards preparing standard methodologies for wipe sampling of ADs. This review also discusses critical factors to consider when optimizing the steps performed for surface wipe sampling. The inter-dependent steps discussed in this review for surface wipe sampling are: (i) adsorption of analyte onto a wipe; (ii) desorption of the analyte from the wipe; and (iii) detection of the sampled analyte. The first two steps require optimization of both chemical and physical factors to create a successful sampling method. The detection step has largely been optimized due in part to the sensitivity of analytical instrumentation, but there remain opportunities to develop more effective methodologies for timely feedback and an increased sensitivity to platinum-based ADs. This review also provides additional recommendations to improve reporting of results from the wipe sampling of ADs and highlights the need for additional research on the occupational and surface exposure limits for ADs.