DNA SINGLE-STRAND BREAKS IN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES OF CLINICAL PERSONNEL WITH OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO VOLATILE INHALATIONAL ANESTHETICS

The rates of DNA single-strand breaks in peripheral lymphocytes of 41 persons administering anesthesia daily and 44 control persons were det ermined by nucleoid sedimentation. There is a significantly higher rat e of DNA single-strand breaks in nonsmoking anesthesia persons than in nonsmoking control persons (P < 0.01). Smoking anesthesia persons and smoking control persons presented increased rates of DNA single-stran d breaks. Nonsmoking nurse anesthetists showed an insignificantly high er rate of damage than nonsmoking anesthesiologists. DNA single-strand breaks indicate damage before the start of DNA repair. Therefore, det ected DNA single-strand breaks may be reversible. As not every DNA rep air is perfect, increased rates of DNA single-strand breaks may possib ly lead to irreversible DNA damage. (C) 1994 Academic Press, inc.