Factors contributing to discrepancies in population monitoring studies.
A review of the scientific literature on population monitoring studies (on non-accidentally exposed populations) frequently show that many of these studies using similarly exposed populations and the same laboratory techniques do not produce consistent results. To illustrate the problem, a brief review of studies using well validated techniques (chromosome aberrations and hprt gene mutation) to elucidate genotoxic effects of cigarette smoking is presented. Although many factors can contribute to the generation of discrepant results, two obvious factors are small sample sizes and inadequate experimental data. In addition, a new factor on genetic susceptibility should be considered in population studies whenever appropriate. The new factor is based on recent data showing the influence of polymorphic metabolizing genes on response to environmental mutagens towards biological effects and disease outcome. The common ones include the cytochrome P450 and the glutathione S-transferase genes. The inclusion of susceptibility factors in population monitoring may revolutionize the approach for health risk assessment and for environmental regulations.
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Division of Environmental Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1110, USA. william.au@utmb.edu
W W
WW
Au
N
N
Cajas-Salazar
S
S
Salama
D015415:Biomarkers; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018401:Sample Size; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D015415:Biomarkers; D009153:Mutagens; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase