MONITORING GENOTOXIC EXPOSURE IN URANIUM MINES

Recent data from deep uranium mines in Czechoslovakia indicated that m iners are exposed to other mutagenic factors in addition to radon daug hter products. Mycotoxins were identified as a possible source of muta gens in these mines. Mycotoxins were examined in 38 samples from mines and in throat swabs taken from 116 miners and 78 controls. The follow ing mycotoxins were identified from mines samples: aflatoxins B1 and G 1, citrinin, citreoviridin, mycophenolic acid, and sterigmatocystin. S ome mold strains isolated from mines and throat swabs were investigate d for mutagenic activity by the SOS chromotest and Salmonella assay wi th strains TA100 and TA98. Mutagenicity was observed, especially with metabolic activation in vitro. These data suggest that mycotoxins prod uced by molds in uranium mines are a new genotoxic factor for uranium miners.