Chromosomal aberrations in humans as genetic endpoints to assess the impact of pollution

The chromosomal aberration assay with peripheral blood lymphocytes has been used routinely during the last three decades to survey exposure of humans to various genotoxic agents. A large number of biomonitoring studies are ba sed on this genetic endpoint. A great deal of data exists on occupational, life-style or medical exposure situations but less evidence of the validity of the assay is available with regards to environmental exposure. In the p resent paper we report our investigations on the impact of pollution in two different populations using chromosomal aberrations in human peripheral bl ood lymphocytes as a biomarker of chronic exposure to heavy metals and diox ins/furans for a long period and as a biomarker of acute exposure to accide ntally released vinyl chloride in the air. In order to study genotoxic effe cts (chromosomal aberrations) of heavy metals and dioxins/furans, 52 expose d individuals from a polluted area were compared to 51 matched controls fro m a distant non-industrialized area, A statistically significant increase w as observed in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from the exposed population (1.90% aberrant cells vs. 1.11% fo r the controls). In the case of the vinyl chloride accident, chromosomal ab errations were analysed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 29 potentially exposed and 29 non-exposed individuals (matched controls). The exposed gro up showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of aberrant cells (1.47% vs. 1.07% for the controls). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.