Evaluation of genetic damage in open‐cast coal mine workers using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay

Abstract

Coal is the largest fossil fuel source used for the generation of energy. However, coal extraction and its use constitute important pollution factors; thus, risk characterization and estimation are extremely important for the safety of coal workers and the environment. Candiota is located to the southeast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul and has the largest coal reserves in Brazil, and the largest thermal power complex in the state. In the open-cast mines, the coal miners are constantly exposed to coal dust. The human buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay has been used widely to investigate biomarkers for DNA damage, cell death, and basal cell frequency in buccal cells. The aim of this study was to assess whether prolonged exposure to coal dust could lead to an increase in genomic instability, cell death, and frequency of basal cells using the BMCyt assay. In the analysis of epithelial cells, the exposed group (n = 41) presented with a significantly higher frequency of basal cells, micronuclei in basal and differentiated cells, and binucleated cells compared to the non-exposed group (n = 29). The exposed group showed a significantly lower frequency of condensed chromatin cells than the non-exposed group. However, we found no correlation between DNA damage and metal concentration in the blood of mine workers. DNA damage observed in the mine workers may be a consequence of oxidative damage resulting from exposure to coal residue mixtures. In addition, our findings confirm that the BMCyt assay can be used to identify occupational risk.

DNA damage assessment with buccal micronucleus cytome assay in Turkish coal miners

“…Two workers had confirmed (diagnosed) and three suspect pneumoconiosis, while the remaining 49 workers frequencies. These findings are in line with earlier reports of increased DNA damage in coal workers from different countries (7,8,(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) and contribute to the limited knowledge about the genotoxic effects of coal dust exposure in Turkish coal miners. One Turkish study (7) with 39 coal workers from the Armutcuk coal mine in the Zonguldak region found significantly higher sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosome aberration (CA), and MN frequencies in miners than controls.…”

Cytogenetic Abnormality in Exfoliated Cells of Buccal Mucosa in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in the Tunisian Population: Impact of Different Exposure Sources

“…Many studies report a statistically significant elevation of MN levels in exposed individuals compared to control groups [45, 54–56], and many other studies report changes that were not statistically significant [57, 58]. In this study, anomalous cell (MN and BN) frequencies of cases of buccal mucosa were mostly significantly higher than those of controls for participants occupationally exposed (Table 5).…”

Genetic Damage in Workers from the Rare Metal Ore Production Region

“…It should be noted that most of the works devoted to the study of genotoxic effects using the BMCyt assay in miners are related to coal mining [54,68,69,85,86]. In these works, the authors showed a significant increase in the frequency of MN in buccal epithelium cells in coal miners.…”