DETECTION OF MICRONUCLEI IN DESQUAMOUS CE LLS OF ORAL CAVITY MUCOSA IN SOUTH VIETNAMESE WOMEN

The possibility of applying the micronucleus test to estimate changes in chromatin structures of somatic cells of South Vietnam inhabitants exposed to with phytotoxic substances (Agent Orange) in the 1960s was investigated. Remote medical and biological consequences of the action of dioxin-containing phenoxyherbicides on man were studied. In inhabi tants of Bin Mi Village (Shongbe Province), which had been intensely b ombed with Agent Orange, the epithelium of the oral cavity showed a co nsiderable increase in the occurrence of cells with damaged chromatin structures (P < 0.01).