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Single‐strand breaks, chromosome aberrations, sister‐chromatid exchanges, and micronuclei in blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to styrene during the production of reinforced plastics
Author(s) -
MäkiPaakkanen J.,
Norppa Hannu,
Walles S.,
OstermanGolkar S.,
Oleson F. B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.2850170105
Subject(s) - micronucleus test , sister chromatid exchange , sister chromatids , chromosome , styrene , genetics , toxicology , chromosome aberration , occupational exposure , dna damage , andrology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , dna , medicine , toxicity , gene , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer , medical emergency
Chromosome aberrations (CA), micronuclei (MN, cytokinesis‐block [CB] method), and sister‐chromatid exchanges (SCE) were analysed in blood lymphocytes of 17 workers and 17 control subjects. The mean urinary mandelic acid level (average 9.4 mmol/1) and styrene glycol in blood (average 2.5 μmol/1) implied exposure to about 300 mg/m 3 of styrene in the plant. The number of CA was significantly higher in non‐smoking workers compared with nonsmoking controls. A significant correlation was observed between duration of exposure and individual CA level of all workers. No significant effects were observed in MN or SCE. Single‐strand breaks (SSB) in DNA of isolated lymphocytes were studied in nine of the workers and eight of the controls by the DNA‐unwinding technique. The results showed an increase in SSB among the exposed workers. The present findings support earlier reports on the increase of structural CA in blood lymphocytes of workers in the reinforced plastic industry, and also show that SSBs are elevated in such workers.