CYTOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES IN A POPULATION EXPOSED TO VINYL-CHLORIDE THROUGH AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT

On the first of June, 1996 an environmental accident occurred in Schon ebeck, Germany in which free vinyl chloride was evaporated into the at mosphere. Thereby, the human population living in this area was expose d to vinyl chloride and its byproducts. Chromosomal aberrations were m easured in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 29 potentially exposed an d 29 non-exposed (control) individuals. Both groups were matched regar ding age, gender and smoking habits. Two hundred metaphases were analy sed for chromosomal aberrations per each individual. The exposed group showed a statistically significant increase in the mean frequency of aberrant cells (1.47% versus 1.07% in the control group). Chromosomal aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes have been shown to be a very sen sitive biomarker of genotoxic effects not only for occupational exposu re to vinyl chloride as reported several times during the last 20 year s, but also for an accidental environmental exposure. A follow-up cyto genetic study is recommendable. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.