Some American doctors are becoming concerned about the effects of chemicals in anaesthetic injections that have been observed as possible causes of cancer in patients and among hospital technicians handling the doses in the operating room.

Dr. Frank Field of NBC News interviewed Dr. Thomas Corbett of the University of Michigan medical centre, who said he is concerned about the long exposure of persons to chemicals in the anaesthetics. He said there is no proof these chemicals cause cancer, but nurses handling the drugs show a higher incidence of cancer, miscarriage, and congenital defects in children they bear later. He also says that among patients, the anaesthetics remain in the body a long time.