title: Baseline frequency of chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy individuals living in Turin (North-Western Italy): assessment of the effects of age, sex and GSTs gene polymorphisms on the levels of genomic damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increased exposure to environmental pollutants has led to the awareness of the necessity for constant monitoring of human populations, especially those living in urban areas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the background levels of genomic damage in a sample of healthy subjects living in the urban area of Turin (Italy). The association between DNA damage with age, sex and GSTs polymorphisms was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and one individuals were randomly sampled. Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs) and Chromosomal Aberrations (CAs) assays, as well as genotyping of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes, were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of SCEs and CAs were 5.137 ± 0.166 and 0.018 ± 0.002, respectively. Results showed age and gender associated with higher frequencies of these two cytogenetic markers. The eldest subjects (51-65 years) showed significantly higher levels of genomic damage than younger individuals. GSTs polymorphisms did not appear to significantly influence the frequencies of either markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CAs background frequency observed in this study is one of the highest reported among European populations. Turin is one of the most polluted cities in Europe in terms of air fine PM10 and ozone and the clastogenic potential of these pollutants may explain the high frequencies of chromosomal rearrangements reported here.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology , University of Turin , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santovito
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology , University of Turin , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cervella
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology , University of Turin , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delpero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015894:Genome, Human; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1
keywords: CA; Italian population; SCE; environmental pollution; glutathione S-transferase