engleski

Cytogenetic effect of atrazine on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers employed by herbicide production

The purpose of this study was to assess the chromosome damages in workers occupationally exposed to atrazine, a herbicide widely used for the control of broadleaf weeds. Our research was conducted on 20 workers employed by atrazine production. The cytogenetic effects were analysed by chromosome aberration assay in 48 hours lymphocyte culture. The results demonstrated that occupational exposure to atrazine causes a significant increase in the percentage of chromosomal damages in peripheral blood lymphocytes (up to 5.00 % cells with aberrations). In 4 of 20 examined workers we determined an increased number of cytogenetic damages. Among numerous chromatid and chromosomal breaks in lymphocytes of those workers we also found bicentric chromosomes. The number of chromosomal aberrations detected in lymphocytes of the other 16 employees was also increased compared to the control group, but in lesser proportion. On the basis of our results we can conclude that daily occupational exposure to atrazine may represent a potential hazard to human health due to its interaction with DNA.

cytogenetic effects; herbicide; occupational exposure; human lymphocytes

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