Since two decades, research is going on harmful effects of hazardous drugs and its safe handling.
Exposure to perilous drugs can cause many short term as well as long term effects that can be very lethal.
These drugs can save thousands of lives when used as medicines but when exposed, it can take thousands of lives.
Therefore safe handling of these drugs is very essential.
Workers engaged in pharmaceutical manufacturing and handling sectors are more prone to these fatal exposures.
During the manufacture of drugs, numerous harmful chemicals and toxicants are used which can be a threat to mankind.
Professionals engaged in dug manufacture, administration and waste management are more vulnerable to these exposures.
Chemotherapy used as a treatment for cancer includes severe medications that can adversely affect the person's monitoring the disease.
The treatment process includes the use of several cytotoxic and antineoplastic drugs that can cause severe health disorders like skin and eye irritation, reproductive disorders etc.
Healthcare sectors have designed many guidelines to protect the workers from these harmful effects.
These guidelines suggest the use of closed system drug transfer devices and biological safety cabinets during drug administration.
But sometimes accidents may happen and drugs could be leaked out to immediate surroundings affecting badly the persons available there.
There is frequent disinfection of the surroundings where these hazardous drugs are handled.
The latest development to combat the harmful effects of hazardous drugs is the usage of closed system equipments with double membrane coating that can trap the emissions and is leakage proof.
This system is very effective to avoid exposures and contaminations but is very costly so not commonly used.