title: Effect of sulphur dioxide exposure on human chromosomes.
abstract: The genotoxic effects of an average concentration of 41.7 mg/m3 of SO2 exposure on 42 workers of a fertilizer factory were investigated. Mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CAs), sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and satellite associations (SA) were observed. In SO2-exposed workers, a higher mitotic index (7.09) was recorded in comparison to controls (4.34). The MI, however, declined with duration of exposure. Satellite associations showed a two-fold increase (17.1) as compared to controls (8.11). Among chromosomes, D-G group associations were the highest (7.43%), while 3D type associations were the lowest (0.4%). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the mean frequency of CAs per cell in the exposed workers (3.262%) and the controls (0.833%). The mean frequency of SCEs per cell increased from 3.32 +/- 0.1 in controls to 7.72 +/- 0.19 in the exposed group. The difference was significant (p < 0.05). In smokers, alcoholics and smoker-alcoholics, the frequency of CAs and SCEs per cell was significantly higher than the non-smokers and non-alcoholics, both in the controls and the SO2-exposed workers and showed a correlation with the duration of exposure. SO2 is therefore a clastogenic and genotoxic agent for which necessary precautions must be taken.
authors.affiliation: Human Genetics Unit, Kurukshetra University, India.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kaushik
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008940:Mitotic Index; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide