The MENACE clinical study 

Inhalation of halogenated anaesthetics, such as sevoflurane and isoflurane, is routinely used worldwide for general anaesthesia in both humans and animals. When these drugs are administered, contamination of the ambient air by waste anaesthetic gases (WAGs) in operating rooms (ORs—both human and veterinary) is inevitable. Therefore, OR personnel are occupationally exposed to WAGs. There is an association between high levels of anaesthetic pollution in the workplace and biological effects, including DNA damage/genetic instability, inflammation, and oxidative stress in Brazilian professionals working in ORs.

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We are working with São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista; UNESP) to investigate and understand the impact of anaesthetic exposure on the metabolome of veterinarians occupationally exposed to WAGs (isoflurane and sevoflurane) as a form of long-term chronic exposure. We are also studying animals (mice and rats) exposed to sevoflurane in single/acute exposures at different concentrations, to evaluate possible dose-response relationships. Samples will be collected at various time points and analysed using metabolomics. This initiative forms the MENACE project: "Metabolomics assEssment iN AnesthetiC Exposure."

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UNESP and Aberystwyth University are collaborating with Dr Subhamay Ghosh – Consultant Anaesthetist at Hywel Dda University Health Board – on the MENACE clinical study. This will be an international study examining the effects of low-dose, long-term exposure to WAGs among surgical staff.

 

O projeto MENACE (Metabolomics assEssment iN AnesthetiC Exposure), resultado da colaboração entre o Clinical Hub Aberystwyth e o grupo GENOTOX da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), busca aprofundar o conhecimento sobre os mecanismos moleculares e os possíveis efeitos tóxicos decorrentes da exposição aos anestésicos inalatórios. O estudo visa identificar vias metabólicas que são ativadas ou inibidas durante a anestesia ou frente à exposição ocupacional anestésica, além de detectar assinaturas metabólicas e potenciais biomarcadores em humanos e roedores