Measurement of cytogenetic endpoints in women environmentally exposed to air pollution

The levels of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), high-frequency cells (HFC) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) were studied in lymphocytes of Silesian wo men environmentally exposed to ambient air pollutants. Inhabitants of a les s polluted but similarly urbanized area, in a rural region of Poland, serve d as controls. The study population was selected to minimize the major conf ounding factors influencing SCE and CA. These factors include age, gender, smoking status, and occupation. All donors were 35-46 years old non-smoking City Hall clerks. The levels of all three biomarkers were significantly hi gher in the exposed group than in controls as analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. No correlation was found between levels of CA and SCE. Additional p ossible confounders, such as passive smoking, ex-smoking and X-ray chest ex amination did not influence the levels of biomarkers. This study builds upo n our previous research in a male population but better controls for confou nders. Thus, the results reveal genetic damage resulting from low-dose but chronic environmental exposure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.