Nuclear anomalies in the buccal cells of calcite factory workers

• Published in: Genetics and molecular biology Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 374 - 378
• Main Authors: Diler, Songül Budak, Ergene, Serap
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 01.01.2010
• Subjects: BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; calcite; exfoliated buccal cells; GENETICS & HEREDITY; genotoxicity; micronucleus (MN); Mutagenesis; genotoxicity; exfoliated buccal cells; micronucleus (MN); calcite
• ISSN: 1415-4757; 1678-4685; 1678-4685
• DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572010005000021

The micronucleus (MN) assay on exfoliated buccal cells is a useful and minimally invasive method for monitoring genetic damage in humans. To determine the genotoxic effects of calcite dust that forms during processing, MN assay was carried out in exfoliated buccal cells of 50 (25 smokers and 25 non-smokers) calcite factory workers and 50 (25 smokers and 25 non-smokers) age- and sex-matched control subjects. Frequencies of nuclear abnormalities (NA) other than micronuclei, such as binucleates, karyorrhexis, karyolysis and 'broken eggs', were also evaluated. Micronuclei and the other aforementioned anomalies were analysed by two way analysis of covariance. The linear correlations between the types of micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities were determined by Spearman's Rho. There was a positive correlation between micronuclei and other types of nuclear abnormalities in accordance with the Spearman's Rho test. Results showed statistically significant difference between calcite fabric workers and control groups. MN and NA frequencies in calcite fabric workers were significantly higher than those in control groups (p < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that calcite fabric workers are under risk of significant cytogenetic damage.