Pharmacy Compounding 101: What are Volatile Hazardous Drugs? | Esco TaPestle Rx

Why do volatile Hazardous Drugs (HDs) pose a greater risk to healthcare workers? On this week’s latest episode of Esco TaPestle Rx’s Pharmacy Compounding 101, find out what it means to be potentially exposed to volatile HDs and how to safeguard oneself when handling them. What are Volatile Hazardous Drugs (HDs)? As defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), volatility is the ability of a liquid or solid material to form a gas at ordinary temperatures. Why does it pose a higher risk? The actual risk of HDs to healthcare workers depends on the inherent toxicity of the drug and the extent of exposure. This means inhalation of the volatile HDs is an additional exposure route. While most agents are not volatile, the following have been reported in publications to be volatile under certain conditions: ✔️ Carmustine ✔️ Cyclophosphamide ✔️ Doxorubicin ✔️ Ifosfamide ✔️ Mec