Micronucleus Test in Exfoliated Buccal Cells from Chromium Exposed Tannery Workers

Abstract

Abstract-Our aim was to investigate the adverse effects of occupational exposure to trivalent chromium in tannery workers and unexposed persons. Trivalent chromium used in tanning industry is an environmental contaminant that acts as a carcinogen towards humans and animals. The carcinogenic potential of metals is a major issue in defining human health risk from exposure. In the present investigation, 84 tannery workers and 52 control subjects with similar mean ages, smoking prevalences and alcohol consumption were enrolled for DNA damage analysis in buccal cells by Micronucleus assay (MN). Workers showed a significant increase in micronucleated cells when compared to controls with respect to their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, age and years of exposure. The current study suggests that chronic occupational exposure to Chromium during tanning could lead to increased levels of DNA damage. The results of the present investigation are in agreement with those obtained with the same Cr (III) compounds in mutagenicity assays in bacteria and carcinogenicity tests in rodents. A re-evaluation of the mechanisms of chromium carcinogenisis is proposed.

Cytogenetic Biomonitoring and Immunocytochemical Studies on Car Spray Painters in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria

“…The result obtained from the present study corroborates with the findings of a preliminary study conducted on automobile spray painters in the coal camp mechanic village in Enugu [23]. More so, previous studies have documented similar increased levels of MN and other nuclear abnormalities in buccal epithelial cells of workers occupationally exposed to potentially genotoxic substances [9,[24][25][26].…”

“…Furthermore, there was a significantly higher MN frequency in the buccal cells of car spray painters who were older than 35 years when compared to those <35 years. This finding suggests that there may be an association between an individual's age and the frequency of MN, as previously documented [26]. In line with this finding, a previous study also reported a significant change in MN frequency due to age in a study involving automobile painters in South India [27].…”

Micronuclei Frequencies and Nuclear Abnormalities in Oral Exfoliated Cells of Nuclear Power Plant Workers

“…Further micronucleus frequency was also increased in buccal cells in Chromium Exposed Tannery Workers and silicaexposed workers [15,16].…”

Novel Adsorption Method for Contaminated Water by Wild Endemic Almond: Amygdalus scoparia

“…The shell part of A. scoparia was soaked in phosphoric acid 2% for 24 hours and then dried at 80 ºC in an oven for 24 hours [6,7,[25][26][27][28][29]. Dry parts were then ground and passed through standard steel sieves (72 mm mesh size).…”

“…Hexavalent chromium is considered the most hazardous of all forms, and in welding fume it is a suspected human carcinogen. DNA damage in welders has been associated with hexavalent chromium exposure 7 . This is consistent with the classification of hexavalent chromium as a human lung carcinogen 8 .…”