[Application of micronucleus test of buccal mucosal cells in assessing the genetic damage of workers exposed to acrylonitrile].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the application of micronucleus test of buccal mucosal cells in monitoring the genetic effect of acrylonitrile in the population exposed to the acrylonitrile.


METHODS
Forty-one healthy male workers in a chemical factory in Shanghai were selected as the low concentration acrylonitrile exposed group while forty-seven healthy male workers in an acrylonitrile factory in Shanghai were selected as the intermediate concentration acrylonitrile exposed group. At the same time, thirty-one male workers who had no toxicant exposure and lived in the same community were selected as the control group. The micronucleus test in buccal mucosal cells and lymphocytes were used respectively for assessing the genetic damage status of these men.


RESULTS
The rate of micronucleus in buccal mucosal cells in both acrylonitrile groups (the low concentration group: 3.68% +/- 2.72%; the intermediate concentration group: 4.00% +/- 2.38%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (2.03% +/- 2.20%) (P < 0.05). The rate of micronucleus in the intermediate concentration group (4.23% +/- 3.34%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (2.48% +/- 1.46%) (P < 0.05). There was the correlation between the micronucleus test of buccal mucosal cells and the micronucleus test of the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in the acrylonitrile exposed population (r = 0.299-0.359, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The micronucleus test of buccal mucosal cells replacing the micronucleus test of the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood can be used as one of the screening indexes in the surveillance of the genetic damage in the acrylonitrile exposed population.
Fan
Wei
W
Department of Occupational Health, Jin Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200540, China.
Wang
Wei-lan
WL
Ding
Sheng
S
Zhou
Yuan-ling
YL
Jin
Fu-sheng
FS
D000181:Acrylonitrile / Q000633:toxicity*; D000328:Adult; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure
D002273:Carcinogens; D000181:Acrylonitrile