THE ASSESSMENT OF DNA-DAMAGE IN LYMPHOCYTES OF WOODEN FURNITURE WORKERS

Single-strand breaks (SSB) and DNA repair were detected in peripheral lymphocytes derived from workers of a furniture factory in a non-pollu ted region of Poland. The workers were exposed to wood dust (n = 19), or to the dust and varnishes or lacquers together (n = 5). Four groups were studied simultaneously: (a) exposed workers smokers of cigarette s (n = 14), (b) nonexposed smokers - control (n = 14), (c) exposed wor kers' nonsmokers (n = 14), (d) exposed nonsmokers (n = 10). In exposed workers DNA SSB and DNA repair were statistically significantly incre ased, DNA SSB was clearly higher in the smoking workers than in the sm oking controls. Cigarette smoking itself has produced no evident incre ase in the frequency of DNA SSB in the control group. Occupational exp osure had a significant effect on DNA repair in non stimulated lymphoc ytes both in smoking and nonsmoking workers.