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An original in vitroapproach was adopted to expose cells to volatile agents. The anaesthetic nitrous oxide (N2O) was chosen as the model agent, and type II pneumocyte-like cells (A549 cells) were used as the target to represent the lungs. A time-lapse microscopy station was equipped with a manual gas mixer that allowed the generation of a mixture of N2O/air/CO2in the gas phase, to provide a uniform distribution of the volatile agent. The dissolution of N2O in the culture medium was monitored by gas chro-matography–electron capture detection. Biochemical alterations, in terms of homocysteine accumulation, demonstrated that intracellular methionine synthase had been inactivated by N2O absorbed by the cells, a process that also occurs in vivo.Toll-like receptors, which are key molecules in inflammatory lung diseases, were also investigated at the molecular level. Our experiments indicated that biochemical and molecular alterations occurred in the cells, even under conditions where neither morphologic changes nor consistent alterations in cell proliferation were evident. This in vitroexposure system can be efficiently adopted for looking at the repeat-dose effects of volatile agents on respiratory tissues. Moreover, it could be of further benefit for identifying the wide range of specific cell targets, and for monitoring relevant endpoints in the cellular and molecular processes that occur during exposure to volatile compounds.

Evaluation of Occupational Exposure to Antiblastic Drugs in an Italian Hospital Oncological Department: Loredana Castiglia, et al. Department of Public Medicine and Social Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy—The determination of the current antiblastic drug contamination levels in an Italian hospital oncology ward was carried out. Statistical evaluation of data aiming to identify potential exposure causes was performed. Cyclophosphamide (CP), ifosfamide (IF) and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) were determined by wipe tests, extracted with diatomaceous earths and quantified by GC/MSMS or HPLC/UV. Data were analysed with respect to the potential contamination levels of sampled surfaces, and various amounts of handled analyte. χ2tests and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. Median concentration levels of 0.086, 0.071, 2.363 µg/dm2were obtained, (CP, IF, 5‐FU, respectively). 3.8 and 13.5% of investigated surfaces showed CP and IF concentrations higher than 1 µg/dm2(up to 26.96 µg/ dm2) and 13.4% of samples contained 5‐FU concentrations in the range 20–208.9 µg/dm2. Analytes' concentration levels were dependent on sampling sites, with significant correlations showing a progressive contamination decrement going from workbenches, floor, hood planes and other surfaces. A diffuse contamination (traces of all the three analytes) was found on all investigated surfaces, even when analytes had not been used during the sampling days. A significant correlation (ρs=0.303, p=0.001) between the measured analyte concentration and the analyte handled amount was found only in the case of IF. The risk management strategy should be improved, as suggested by the measured and widespread levels of contamination. Since contamination also depends on other factors attributable to working modalities and cleaning procedures, the obtained results suggest that performance of specific training courses as well as scheduling environmental monitoring plans to achieve an actual decrement of the observed contamination levels should be implemented.