engleski

Application of biomarkers in the assessment of the occupational exposure to physical and chemical agents

AIM: Occupational physical and chemical mutagens cause different DNA damages in the cell genome. Continous monitoring of the exposure, effect and susceptibility biomarkers enable us to evaluate the levels of genotoxic stress and to determine the interindividual variations in DNA damage and repair levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cytogentic biomonitoring was conducted on the populations occupationally exposed to ionising and nonionising radiation as well as to chemical mutagens (antineoplastic drugs and pesticides). The sensitiveness of standard cytogenetic biomarkers (analysis of structural chromosome aberrations, analysis of sister chromatid exchanges) was investigated and compared with the comet assay, a sensitive technique frequently applied in biomonitoring, especially in accidental cases. RESULTS: By use of all techniques employed, it was observed that the values of biomarkers, indicated the primary and overall cytogenetic damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes, in exposed subjects were significantly higher compared to the general population. The comet test was also confirmed as a sensitive biomarker for the detection of primary genotoxic effects of physical and chemical mutagens on the cell genome. CONCLUSION: The results obtained enable the assessment of the overall as well as the individual genetic risk originated from occupational exposure to physical and chemical mutagens from the work area. They also indicate the necessity for the evaluation of different cytogenetic parameters, as a significant control and prevention measure in biomonitoring of occupationally exposed populations.

Occupational exposure; pesticides; aneoplastic drugs; ionizing radiation; microvawe radiation; comet assay; chromosomal aberrations; sister chromatid exchange; micronuclei

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