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HAZARDOUS DRUGS
NIOSH Requests Feedback to Protect Healthcare Workers’ Reproductive Health

NIOSH seeks public comment on a new draft Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB), Reproductive Risks Associated with Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare Workers and Recommendations for Reducing Exposures. The CIB reviews and summarizes all published studies on adverse reproductive effects of occupational exposures to antineoplastic drugs and provides recommendations for preventing exposures and protecting the reproductive health of workers and their offspring. According to NIOSH, the primary focus of the CIB is workers in healthcare because of their potential to be in an environment of multiple exposures. Based on its review of published data, the agency recommends steps to reduce occupational exposure to hazardous drugs for all healthcare workers, especially those at reproductive risk, including both males and females who are trying to conceive, women who are or may become pregnant, and women who are breastfeeding. 

NIOSH seeks information on the appropriateness of the guidance, its effect on work practices, confidentiality issues, and financial impact. The agency also requests materials to evaluate relevant publications not included in the CIB, institutional and organizational policies in effect, and other relevant infor​mation on this topic.
Comments are due by March 24. For more information, see the Federal Register notice and the draft CIB.

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