title: Elevated micronucleus frequencies in patients with pleural plaque secondary to environmental exposure to asbestos.
abstract: We examined genotoxic damage and frequency of micronuclei in people living in the Bekilli and Suller districts of Denizli city who had been diagnosed with pleural plaques as a result of environmental exposure to asbestos. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 volunteer patients 59-86 years old who did not smoke or consume alcohol and who were diagnosed with calcified pleural plaques. We also examined 30 healthy controls with similar features, who also lived in downtown Denizli. Micronucleus frequencies, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were determined. Micronucleus frequency, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were significantly higher in patients who had been exposed to asbestos than in the controls. We conclude that asbestos had a genotoxic effect, resulting in an increase in micronucleus frequency and other changes in patients diagnosed with pleural plaques secondary to asbestos exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gövercin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tomatır
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Evyapan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: İ
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Acikbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coşkun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akdag
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos