engleski

The alkaline comet assay as biomarker of DNA damage in workers in cigarette manufactury

The aim of this study was to find possible genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to tobacco dust and additional exposure to a source of strontium 90. During their work they all wore individual dosimeters (film badges). Exposed group consists of 8 females and 12 male subjects aged 22 to 54 (mean age 46.6). Their main duration of occupationaly exposure was 26.7 (range 3 to 38). Control group was choosen from general Croatian population and it consists of 17 female and 13 male subjects aged 21 to 61 (mean age 39.8). The asessment of primary DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes was performed using the alkaline comet assay. Tail lenght was measured as main comet parameter. The results showed that the comet tail lenght measured in exposed workers were in the range of mean values between 12.19+0.14 um and 15.85+0.20um. In the control group, the tail lenght means ranged from 12.19+0.06um to 15.08+0.15um. Within the exposed population, there were no significant inter-individual differences in DNA damage (p<0.05). Cigarette smoking age and sex were not potent confounding factors in the control and exposed subjects.The observed non-significant data suggest that tobacco dust and strontium 90 does not significantly contribute to the DNA damage.The average effective dose receiveid one month before blood sampling was lower than 50uSv. The alkaline comet assay stresses the importance of biological indicators in providing information on the actual risk of tobacco dust and strontium 90 exposed individuals. According to our results comet assay as sensitive biomarker can be used as additional complement to physical dosimetry in assessment of occupationally exposure to tobacco dust and strontium 90.

alkaline comet assay; DNA damage; tobacco dust

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