Am. Khalil, CHROMOSOME-ABERRATIONS IN FLOOD LYMPHOCYTES FROM PETROLEUM REFINERY WORKERS, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, 28(2), 1995, pp. 236-239
To evaluate the possible cytogenetic consequences of exposure of human
populations to petrochemicals, the frequency of chromosomal aberratio
ns was studied in blood lymphocytes obtained from 233 persons working
at different locations in a large oil refinery (184 exposed and 49 wor
ksite controls) and from 47 individuals who served as community contro
ls. Chromosomal aberrations occurred with frequencies (mean +/- SEM) b
etween 0.023 +/- 0.013 and 0.037 +/- 0.011 breaks per cell (1.56 +/- 0
.87% to 2.66 +/- 0.54% aberrant cells) in the exposed groups. These va
lues, with the exception of those observed in two workshops (crude oil
unloading as well as petroleum tanker washing and lubrication), were
significant compared to the presumably spontaneous (control) levels (0
.015 +/- 0.004 to 0.021 +/- 0.007 breaks per cell and 1.17 +/- 0.29% t
o 1.46 +/- 0.40% aberrant cells). Cigarette-smoking was not associated
with increased chromosomal aberrations in the exposed and in the cont
rol groups.