CYTOGENETIC EFFECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE IN THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES OF PESTICIDE SPRAYERS

The potential clastogenic effect of pesticides was investigated in 56 (29 indoor and 27 outdoor) agricultural workers exposed to complex che mical mixtures, Exposed and referent subjects were selected from the s ame geographical area located in Ionia, province of Thessaloniki, Gree ce. Chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), were studied in peripheral lymphocytes, Comparison between workers and control group revealed that the individuals exposed to pesticides sho wed substantial clastogenic effects (CA = 2.66% compared to 0.53%, P < 0.001), in their lymphocytes without indication of increases in their basal frequency of SCE, Moreover, the condition of exposure has been found to influence the CA frequency, It was observed that individuals working exclusively in greenhouses (confined spaces) showed higher CA levels than subjects working in open fields (3.37 versus 1.88, P < 0.0 1), No significant difference in their expression of CA between smoker s and non-smokers was found, The present chromosome study included wor kers living in the close vicinity of a large industrial zone near Thes saloniki, The percentage of CA in these indoor sprayers was higher com pared to our previous study carried out in a different area of Thessal oniki, free of industrial plants (3.37% compared to 2.14%, P < 0.02).