title: Chromosome analysis in operating room personnel.
abstract: Cytogenetic tests were performed on operating room personnel working in a Turin hospital. The aim of our study was to determine if any chromosome damage was caused by the use of anaesthetic gases. Blood samples were collected from 45 hospital workers: 15 exposed to anaesthetic gases, 15 exposed to both anaesthetic gases and ionizing radiations and 15 controls. An examination of sister-chromatid exchanges did not highlight significant differences when exposed subjects were compared to controls. Chromosomal aberrations were significantly higher (P = 0.029) in all the exposed personnel, while no statistically significant increase was observed in staff exclusively in contact with anaesthetic gases. Moreover there was a positive correlation for chromosome aberrations with the years of employment, when the entire exposed population was considered and when personnel from the different operating rooms were considered separately. Both sister-chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberrations were higher among smokers though differences were not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale--Laboratori di Antropologia, Torino, Italia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bigatti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ardito
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Armellino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004737:Enflurane / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases / Q000633:toxicity; D006221:Halothane / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D005740:Gases; D004737:Enflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane