Effects of arsenic exposure on the frequency of HPRT-mutant lymphocytes ina population of copper roasters in Antofagasta, Chile: a pilot study

A pilot biomarker study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of usi ng the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene in periph eral blood lymphocytes as a biomarker for detecting genetic effects of arse nic exposure. Blood and urine samples were obtained from workers highly exp osed to arsenic in a copper roasting plant in Antofagasta, Chile. Individua ls were classified according to their job titles into three potential expos ure groups: high, medium, and low. To confirm exposure, arsenic concentrati on was determined in urine samples. The HPRT mutant frequencies were measur ed in lymphocytes from 15 individuals ranging in age from 24 to 66 years. T he mean mutant frequencies for the three exposure groups were: low (9 X 10( -6)), medium (11 X 10(-6)), and high (24 X 10(-6)). An increased mutant fre quency was observed in the highly exposed group, but the response was so sl ight that it is not likely that this assay will be capable of providing dos e-response information across a range of lower, more typical environmental arsenic levels. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.