title: The genotoxic risk of underground coal miners from Turkey.
abstract: A cytogenetic monitoring study was carried out on a group of workers from a bituminous coal mine in Zonguldak province of Turkey, to investigate the genotoxic risk of occupational exposure to coal mine dust. Cytogenetic analysis, namely sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and micronucleus (MN) tests were performed on a strictly selected group of 39 workers and compared to 34 controls matched for gender, age, and habit. Smoking and age were considered as modulating factors. Both SCE and CA frequencies in coal miners appeared significantly higher than in controls. Similarly, there was a significant increase in the frequency of total micronuclei in exposed group as compared to control group. The effect of smoking on the level of SCE and MN was significant in the control group. A positive correlation between the age and the level of SCE was also found in controls. The frequencies of both SCE and CA were significantly enhanced with the years of exposure. The results of this study demonstrated that occupational exposure to coal mine dust leads to a significant induction of cytogenetic damage in peripheral lymphocytes of workers engaged in underground coal mining.
authors.affiliation: University of Kahramanmaras Sutçu Imam, Science and Arts Faculty, Department of Biology, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. lale@ksu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donbak
authors.forename: Eyyup
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rencuzogullari
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topaktas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003031:Coal / Q000633:toxicity*; D003032:Coal Mining; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004249:DNA Damage; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012306:Risk; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D004247:DNA