RESUMEN
Occupational exposure to volatile anesthetic agents may result in various adverse health effects. Anesthetic agents eliminated rapidly from the body due to low solubility in blood and tissues. Genetic material has been shown to be a sensitive target of numerous harmful agents including anesthetic gases. Investigate the genotoxic effect of exposure to volatile anesthetics on leukocytes of exposed operating room personnel [anesthetists, surgeons and nurses], determine the effect of exposure to volatile anesthetics on oxidative stress [super oxide dismutase [SOD]] and determine work-related subjective symptoms. This study was conducted at Menoufiya University Hospitals. Sixty two operating room personnel [ORP] occupationally exposed to anesthetic gases were selected as a study group. An equal number of non-exposed matched controls were also chosen. A pre-designed self-administered questionnaire regarding subjective symptoms related to exposure together with heparenized blood sample for determination of DNA fragmentation and quantitative determination of super oxide dismutase [SOD]. ORP showed significant higher mean value of optical density of DNA fragments of leucocytes and significant lower mean value of SOD than controls. Statistically significantly higher frequency of work-relate symptoms included dizziness, headache, irritability, decreased concentration, anxiety and easy fatigability were reported among ORP compared to controls. With increasing years of exposure to anesthetic gases, the DNA fragmentation significantly increased; where SOD [ng/ml] levels significantly decreased. Longer exposure to anesthetic gases among ORP was associated with increased DNA fragmentation as well as decreased oxidative stress [SOD [ng/ml]]. Effective well-designed scavenging pressure/exhaust ventilation systems, further environmental and genetic studies are required to assess the effects of chronic exposure to volatile anesthetic agent. Finally, antioxidant supplements are recommended