title: Correlation of human lymphocyte SCE frequency with smoking history.
abstract: Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in lymphocytes of 24 active cigarette smokers was compared to that of 24 age and sex matched controls and 7 persons who had stopped smoking an average of 15.6 years. The results indicated that cigarette smoking was associated with a significant elevation (p less than 0.001) in the frequency of SCEs observed in otherwise healthy cigarette smokers. Furthermore, the increase in SCE level was shown to be dose-related to years of exposure when smoking history was measured in cumulative pack-years. The mean SCE frequency of the ex-smokers was not significantly different from nonsmoking controls.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking