Cytogenetic monitoring of croatian population occupationally exposed to a complex mixture of pesticides

This paper describes a longitudinal study of possible genetic damage in Cro atian workers occupationally exposed to a complex mixture of pesticides. Th e methods of choice were chromosomal aberration analysis, sister chromatid exchange analysis (SCE), micronucleus assay and comet assay. In order to de termine primary genotoxic effects in workers, blood samples were taken afte r the workers spent 8 months in the production of pesticides. During the pr oduction all subjects were simultaneously exposed to a complex mixture of p esticides containing atrazine, alachlor, cyanazine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacet ic acid, and malathion. To detect DNA repair in lymphocytes of the same sub jects the second series of blood samples was taken 8 months after the worke rs were removed from production. Regardless of the time sampling time the e xposed workers showed an increased number of chromosomal aberrations, SCE f requency, micronucleus (MN) frequency, and values of comet assay parameters . After 8 months of non-exposure the workers showed a significantly decreas ed number of chromosomal aberrations, MN frequency, and DNA migration compa red to the results of the first sampling, but it was still significantly hi gher than in controls. Furthermore, the SCE frequency in the exposed subjec ts did not drop after the 8 months of non-exposure, which indicates long-te rm exposure to a mixture of pesticides. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland L td. All rights reserved.