CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRATIONS AND MICRONUCLEI IN REINFORCED-PLASTICS WORKERS EXPOSED TO STYRENE

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytogenetic changes induc ed in humans exposed to styrene in a reinforced plastics plant. Blood and urine samples were collected from 18 styrene exposed workers and 1 8 age and sex matched control subjects from the administrative departm ent of the same factory. Chromosome aberrations (CAs) and micronuclei (MN) (cytokinesis block method) were analyzed in blood lymphocytes. Al l of the subjects included in the study were male non-smokers. The dur ation of employment ranged from 10 to 22 years (14.3 +/- 4.4). In orde r to monitor exposure to styrene, urinary mandelic acid (MA) levels we re measured using a standard colorimetric method. The level of thioeth ers in the urine was also determined colorimetrically. The mean level of mandelic acid was significantly higher in the exposed workers (328. 44 +/- 266.21 mg/g creatinine) compared with that of the controls (50. 09 +/- 16.84 mg/g creatinine) (p < 0.05). The level of urinary thioeth ers was found to be higher among the exposed workers. The number of ce lls with chromosomal aberrations was significantly higher in the worke rs (6.06 +/- 4.41) compared with the controls (3.44 +/- 2.28) (p < 0.0 5). There was no significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in the exposed workers compared to controls. Our results support earli er findings on increased rates of chromosomal aberrations in reinforce d plastics workers.