Cytogenetic Effects of Exposure to Formalin Vapours in Buccal and Nasal Mucosae: A Study in the Students of Anatomy and Embalmers

Abstract

Presently formaldehyde has been classified as group I carcinogen to the human population by International agency for research on cancer, as its exposure has been associated with the nasal, nasopharyngeal, buccal carcinoma and leukemia. Formaldehyde on reaching DNA forms DNA-Protein crosslinks thereby causing chromosomal mutations and micronuclei formation. The micronucleus assay provides information of cytogenetic damage in tissues by these carcinogens. In present study the samples from buccal and nasal mucosae of 25 exposed and 25 non-exposed individuals were taken with the help of wooden spatula and cytopathology brush respectively. These samples were immediately smeared on the microscopic slides and fixed with ethyl alcohol and then stained with the Papanicolaou stain. After staining, slides were studied by the light microscope under 400X and 1000X magnification for the micronuclei and other effects causing genocytotoxicity. Our results show a significant increase in Micronuclei and Micronucleated cells frequency in exposed groups compared with the controls. A significant positive correlation between micronuclei frequencies and duration of exposure is found(r=0.7332 and p Value=0.00).