NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SISTER-CHROMATID EXCHANGES IN CULTURED BLOOD-LYMPHOCYTES FROM WORKERS IN A LARGE OIL REFINERY

In order to assess the potential genotoxic effects of occupational exp osure to petrochemicals, the incidence of sister-chromatid exchanges ( SCE) in cultured lymphocytes was studied. Blood samples were taken fro m 233 individuals (184 exposed and 49 worksite controls) in an oil ref inery and from 47 community control persons. The data showed a non-sig nificant elevation of SCE frequency in occupationally exposed workers when compared to non-exposed individuals. The mean SCE frequency per c ell ranged from 7.55 +/- 0.55 in blood of lube oil blending and cannin g (LOBC) workers to 9.13 +/- 0.71 in catalytic cracking and water trea tment (CCWT) workers. The control values were 6.2 +/- 0.67 and 7.21 +/ - 0.45 in the community and worksite individuals, respectively. Furthe rmore, the SCE frequencies were influenced neither by age nor by smoki ng.