Effect of NO x on the Somatic Chromosomes of Goldsmiths

The genotoxic effc of NO2 was investigated on somatic human chromosomes obtained from lymphocytes of45 goldsmiths exposed to 1770.5 mg/m3 NO1 in ambient air at normal temperature and pressure and compared to an equal number of matched control breathing air containing 50 pg/m3 NOr. Short-term lymphocyte cultures were set up from blood collected from both exposed and control individuals by venipuncture in heparinized sterile syringes. Mitotic index (MI), chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid (SCEs), and satellite associations (SAs) were analyzed. All the parameters showed a significant increase (pO.01 and pr.05) in the exposed individuals as compared to the controls: MI (9.57 vs. 5.01), CAM (3.48 vs. 0.711), SCEs (10.56 vs. 7.02), and SM (25.97 vs. 12.84), respectively. Occurrence of DG-type SM (one D-group chromosome and one G-group chromosome) was highest and 3 D-type (three D-group chromosomes) lowest. NO2 was thus found to be genotoxic for humans. Key work chromosome aberrations, genetic hazards, genotoxicity, mitotic index, NO., satellite association, sister chromatid exchange.