Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in Lithuanian populations: effects of occupational and environmental exposures

• Published in: Mutation research Vol. 445; no. 2; pp. 225 - 239
• Main Authors: Lazutka, J.R, Lekevičius, R, Dedonyt≐, V, Maciulevičiūt≐-Gervers, L, Mierauskien≐, J, Rudaitien≐, S, Slapšyt≐, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 30-09-1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects; Air Pollutants, Radioactive - adverse effects; Chernobyl accident; Child; Chromosomal aberration; Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosomes, Human - drug effects; Chromosomes, Human - radiation effects; DNA Damage; Environmental Monitoring; Exposure; Female; Heavy metal; Humans; Ionizing radiation; Lithuania; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - radiation effects; Male; Metals, Heavy - adverse effects; Middle Aged; Nuclear Reactors; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Organic and inorganic volatile substance; Organic Chemicals - adverse effects; Radiation, Ionizing; Radioactive Hazard Release; Sister Chromatid Exchange; Ukraine; Lithuania; Ukraine; Chromosomal aberration; Ionizing radiation; Sister-chromatid exchange; Exposure; Organic and inorganic volatile substance; Chernobyl accident; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 0027-5107; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/S1383-5718(99)00128-X

Cytogenetic analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CA) in 175,229 cells from 1113 individuals, both unexposed and occupationally or environmentally exposed to heavy metals (mercury and lead), organic (styrene, formaldehyde, phenol and benzo(
a)pyrene) and inorganic (sulfur and nitrogen oxides, hydrogen and ammonium fluorides) volatile substances and/or ionizing radiation was performed. In addition, 11,250 cells from 225 individuals were scored for the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE). Increased frequencies of CA were found in all occupationally exposed groups. A principal difference between the exposure to heavy metals and organic substances was found: increase in the CA frequency was dependent on duration of exposure to mercury but not dependent on duration of exposure to styrene, formaldehyde and phenol. A higher CA incidence was found in lymphocytes of children living in the vicinity of a plant manufacturing phosphate fertilizers. This indicates that children are a sensitive study group for the assessment of environmental exposure. However, the results of SCE analysis in these children were inconclusive. Exposure to ionizing radiation was found to cause chromosome breaks and chromatid exchanges in Chernobyl clean-up workers and chromatid breaks, chromatid exchanges, dicentric chromosomes and chromosome translocations in workers from the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. The increased frequency of chromatid exchanges in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation was quite unexpected. This may be attributed to the action of some unrecognized life-style or occupational factors, or to be a result of radiation-induced genomic instability. Also an increased SCE frequency was found in lymphocytes of Chernobyl clean-up workers.