Human mutagens: evidence from paternal exposure
The importance of inherited mutations as a cause of human disease has been established clearly through examples of well-defined genetic anomalies, such as Down syndrome and retinoblastoma. Furthermore, it is suspected that environmental contaminants induce mutations resulting in increased risk for such defects in subsequent generations of persons exposed. The present lack of direct evidence for induced inherited genetic disorders in human beings hampers the development of risk estimation techniques for extrapolation from animal models. The most extensive prospective epidemiologic studies of inherited genetic effects have involved survivors of atomic bomb detonations and patients treated with cancer chemotherapy. In neither case has a significant elevation in inherited genetic effects or cancer been detected in the offspring of exposed individuals. Epidemiologic studies of subjects receiving chronic exposure may be confounded by the effect of maternal exposure during pregnancy. Consideration of only paternal exposure can minimize the confounding influence of teratogenicity, enhancing the resolving power of studies for inherited effects. Using this approach, retrospective (case-control) studies of childhood cancer patients have provided limited but suggestive evidence for inheritance of induced effects. Endpoints, such as congenital malformations and spontaneous abortion following paternal exposure, can also be considered as indicators of heritable mutagenic effects. For example, there is limited evidence suggesting that paternal exposure to anaesthetic gases may cause miscarriage and congenital abnormalities as a result of induced male germ cell mutations. 104 references.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
- OSTI ID:
- 6936134
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Mol. Mutagen.; (United States), Vol. 11:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HEREDITARY DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
MUTAGENS
RISK ASSESSMENT
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
ABORTION
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
GENETIC EFFECTS
GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS
MUTATIONS
NEOPLASMS
PREGNANCY
SPERMATOZOA
TERATOGENESIS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man