title: Assessment of the deoxyribonucleic acid damage caused by occupational exposure to chemical compounds in Isfahan Polyacryl Company.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemical pollutants found in industrial environments can cause chronic genotoxicity in vulnerable individuals during the long-term exposure. The primary purpose of the present study was to assess the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage caused by occupational exposure to industrial chemicals and secondary purpose is to investigate the effect of possible risk factors of genotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The blood samples of the workers of Isfahan Polyacryl Company were evaluated in terms of genotoxicity using the comet assay method. The percentage of DNA in the tail and tail moment were measured and DNA damage was evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of age, smoking, duration of working in the company and working in two parts of the company on the degree of vulnerability to genotoxicity was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of DNA damage in the target group (the production line workers) was significantly higher than the control group (the staffs), 3.87 versus 1.52 as tail moment, (P < 0.0001). DNA damage was significantly higher in smoker groups compared with non-smoker target group and control group, 4.18 versus 3.07 and 1.52 respectively as tail moment, (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, it was higher in person working in two different parts of the company compared to those work in one part and control group, 4.63 versus 3.74 and 1.52 respectively as tail moment, (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational exposure to Polyacryl caused DNA damage. Smoking and working in two parts of the company may have a significant role in DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etebari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafarian-Dehkordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahookar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moradi
keywords: Comet assay; Isfahan Polyacryl Company; deoxyribonucleic acid damage; genotoxicity; occupational exposure