INDUCTION OF MICRONUCLEI BY SMOKELESS TOBACCO ON BUCCAL MUCOSA CELLS OF HABITUAL USERS

Maras Powder is a kind of smokeless tobacco widely used in lieu of cig arettes in the South-Eastern region of Turkey, In this study, we have evaluated micronuclei in buccal mucosa cells of habitual Maras Powder users, Therefore, we divided our subjects into three groups-smokeless tobacco users, smokers and non-smokers/non-users. The mean percentage of micronucleated (MN) cells was significantly higher in non-smokers/n on-users (P < 0.01), The mean percentage of MN cells was 1.86 +/- 0.26 in users and 1.99 +/- 0.30 in smokers, There was no difference betwee n the mean percentage of MN cells in these two groups, In conclusion, the genotoxic effect of smokeless tobacco should be considered in addi tion to other known hazards.