Effects of cigarette smoking and solvent exposure on sister chromatid exchange frequency in painters

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of sister chromatid exchange frequency (SCE) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 117 members of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Tradesman was conducted in union locals in two major U.S. cities. Chronic solvent exposure intensity and duration were estimated from interviewer-administered-questionnaire data. SCE for all of the workers in the study were scored by one reader. A second reader determined the SCE frequency from a random sample of 30 workers. No significant difference in SCE frequency was associated with reader or time of reading. Age, coffee and alcohol intake and chronic solvent exposure (both intensity and duration, estimated over the working lifetime and over the year prior to study for each worker) did not significantly elevate SCE. The effect of smoking on SCE frequency, assessed by analysis of variance controlling for other possible confounding factors, showed that smoking increased SCE frequency (P less than .0001). The SCE frequency in the smoking, solvent-exposed (estimated as lifetime exposure) painters was 6.75 SCE/cell; in the non-smoking, solvent-exposed workers the SCE frequency was 5.73 SCE/cell; the controls had SCE levels of 6.84 SCE/cell (smokers) and 5.90 SCE/cell (non-smokers), respectively. These observations are consistent with other work suggesting that chronic solvent exposure in the paint trade is not associated with an elevation in SCE in peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, further work is necessary to address adequately the question of the genotoxicity of acute solvent exposure in these workers.

Alkaline single cell gel (comet) assay and genotoxicity monitoring using bullheads and carp

“…Numerous studies have described the nature and source of toxic agents released into the environment. These include by-products of industrial processes [Pesonen and Anderson, 1992;Houk, 1992;Bucher et al, 1992;Adams et al, 1992;Nylund et al, 1994;Rank and Nielson, 19941, agricultural pesticides [Moutschen-Dahman et al, 1984;Madenjian et al, 1993;Welling and De Vries, 1994;Schlenk et al, 1992;Crane and Younghans-Haug, 19921, components of manufactured products [Poncelet et al, 1984;Hattemer-Frey et al, 1990;Kligerman et al, 1992;Das et al, 19941, combustion products [Hadnagy and Seemayer, 1987;Kelsey et al, 19941, food additives [Knudsen, 1986;Zeiger, 19931, and even derivatives of life-styles [Ghosh and Ghosh, 1988;Kelsey et al, 1988;Randerath et al, 1992;Stoichev et al, 19931. Major contaminants of the Great Lakes Basin have been identified and reported in a number of recent studies. For instance, Fabacher et al [I9911 have presented a detailed listing of the contaminants found in two Ohio rivers which empty into Lake Erie, two Wisconsin rivers which empty into Lake Michigan, and a Michigan river which empties into Lake Huron.…”

Transient increase in DNA strand breaks in car refinishing spray painters

“…In a group of 117 painters, no significant increase in sister chromatid exchange frequency was found (6). In addition, in a group of Swedish paint industry workers, Haglund et a1 (7) did not find a significant increase in sister chromatid exchanges or chromosome aberrations.…”