Limited Health Risks in Performing Drug Reconstitution and Handling Tasks in Pharmacies-Results of an Occupational Risk Assessment Study

Objective: Some drugs need processing before they can be administered or dispensed. We measured airborne exposure of pharmacy staff to small particles when performing these tasks.

Methods: Reconstitution of powdered drugs in vials; crushing, splitting, and counting of tablets; and opening of capsules, using different ventilation strategies, were investigated in five pharmacies after in a worst-case approach. Airborne particulate matter was determined for a range of particles sizes.

Results: Mean particle concentrations ranged from not detectable to 1.03 μg/m 3 (<1 μm) and 589.7 μg/m 3 (<10 μm). Dust exhaust made tasks safer. Most hazardous was pouring out tablets from a bulk supply, and least hazardous was reconstitution of a powder for injection.

Conclusions: Occupational exposure during routine handling of drugs can occur, but the risks vary greatly with the nature and duration of the tasks.