CHROMOSOME-ABERRATIONS IN CHLORALKALI WORKERS PREVIOUSLY EXPOSED TO MERCURY-VAPOR

Chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes were studied in 29 male chloralkali workers previously exposed to mercury v apor and in two matched reference groups comprising nitrate fertilizer workers and 29 customs and police officers. The study was performed u sing whole-blood cultures with and without hydroxyurea and caffeine to inhibit deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and repair, respectively. No significant differences in the frequencies of chromosome aberrations a nd micronuclei were observed. However, a nonsignificant increase in ch romosome breaks and dicentrics was found in the subgroups with high ur inary mercury peak levels or high cumulative mercury exposure. An incr eased prevalence of ''high'' scores of chromatid breaks in the inhibit ed cultures. exceeding the 75th percentile of all of the subjects stud ied, was observed for the chloralkali workers when compared with both reference groups. No evident cytogenetic effects were observed among t he chloralkali workers with the methods used in the present study.