[Genetic effects of workers occupationally exposed to mercury using three genetic end-points].
OBJECTIVE
To investigating genetic effects of workers occupationally exposed to mercury (Hg).


METHODS
The peripheral lymphocytes from 20 workers exposed to mercury and 20 controls were measured with micronucleus test, comet assay, hrpt gene mutation test and TCR gene mutation test.


RESULTS
The mean micronuclei rate(MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate(MCR) in 20 workers were (5.90 +/- 0.91) per thousand and (5.30 +/- 0.81) per thousand, respectively while MNR and MCR in controls were (1.50 +/- 0.47) per thousand and (1.30 +/- 0.31) per thousand respectively, The difference of MNR and MCR between workers and controls was very significant (P < 0.01). The mean tail length (MTL) of workers and controls were (3.16 +/- 0.31) and (0.99 +/- 0.07) microm, respectively. The mean tail moment (MTM) of workers and controls were 1.63 +/- 0.22 and 0.39 +/- 0.03, respectively, There was a significant difference in MTL and MTM between workers and controls(P < 0.01). When the average mutation frequencies (Mfs-hprt) of hprt and (Mfs-TCR) of TCR of workers were compared with those of controls, there were not significant difference (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the investigation indicated that the adverse genetic effects in workers occupationally exposed to mercury could be detected.
Guo
Wei-jun
WJ
Center for Disease Control of Shengzhou, Shengzhou, Zhejiang 312400, China.
Zhao
Xiao-ying
XY
Li
Su-ying
SY
Chen
Chun-hua
CH
Chen
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Lou
Jian-lin
JL
Zheng
Wei
W
Deng
Hong-ping
HP
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002617:Chemical Industry; D020552:Comet Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D059645:Mutation Rate; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D008628:Mercury