Antineoplastic drugs are used in treatment of cancer and other diseases in humans, and increasingly in companions pets. These drugs have huge benefits for to those suffering from disease. However to healthcare workers (and veterinary staff) who must handle the drugs every day, potentially for a lifetime, they present many occupational health hazard. Studies of exposures in healthcare workers have shown increasing rates of adverse reproductive effects, and cancer. Previous studies have documented AD residues on surfaces in pharmacy, nursing and patient-care areas. There are no regulated exposure limits in Canada, or elsewhere. 
Variability of contaminants across surfaces is poorly understood making it difficult to develop sampling guidance. Nevertheless, monitoring contamination using surface wipe testing is now required by safe drug handling guidelines, such USP 800. Regular screening for contamination by AD will help to identify contamination levels, sources, pathways and determinants of exposure, with the ultimate goal to prevent of worker exposure. The study applicants have previously developed a novel simple wipe sampling method for pharmacy and patient care settings, and validated a method for cost-effective extraction and quantification of ten different antineoplastic drugs from the wipe samples. Members of this research team have also used surface samples as part of an intervention study in two healthcare settings. In the proposed study, we will expand on our prior method development work to: (1) undertake a hazard assessment of AD exposure in cancer care facilities in Alberta, and a comparison to similar facilities in Minnesota; (2) characterize determinants of AD contamination; (3) describe how AD contamination varies over time and space; and (4) use findings from this study to recommend a sampling strategy that supports the requirements of new safe drug handling guidelines.