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Cytogenetic analysis of an exposed-referent study: perchloroethylene-exposed dry cleaners compared to unexposed laundry workers

Journal Article · · Environmental Health
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [3]
  1. Wayne State Univ., Detroit, MI (United States). Dept. of Biological Sciences; Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Physical and Life Sciences Directorate; DOE/OSTI
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Physical and Life Sciences Directorate
  3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, OH (United States)
  4. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Washington, DC (United States)
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Background: Significant numbers of people are exposed to tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, PCE) every year, including workers in the dry cleaning industry. Adverse health effects have been associated with PCE exposure. However, investigations of possible cumulative cytogenetic damage resulting from PCE exposure are lacking. Methods: Eighteen dry cleaning workers and 18 laundry workers (unexposed controls) provided a peripheral blood sample for cytogenetic analysis by whole chromosome painting. Pre-shift exhaled air on these same participants was collected and analyzed for PCE levels. The laundry workers were matched to the dry cleaners on race, age, and smoking status. The relationships between levels of cytological damage and exposures (including PCE levels in the shop and in workers’ blood, packyears, cumulative alcohol consumption, and age) were compared with correlation coefficients and t-tests. Multiple linear regressions considered blood PCE, packyears, alcohol, and age. Results: There were no significant differences between the PCE-exposed dry cleaners and the laundry workers for chromosome translocation frequencies, but PCE levels were significantly correlated with percentage of cells with acentric fragments (R2 = 0.488, p < 0.026). Conclusions: There does not appear to be a strong effect in these dry cleaning workers of PCE exposure on persistent chromosome damage as measured by translocations. However, the correlation between frequencies of acentric fragments and PCE exposure level suggests that recent exposures to PCE may induce transient genetic damage. More heavily exposed participants and a larger sample size will be needed to determine whether PCE exposure induces significant levels of persistent chromosome damage.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344; W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
1626571
Journal Information:
Environmental Health, Journal Name: Environmental Health Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 1476-069X
Publisher:
BioMed CentralCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Preliminary Study: Environmental Assessment of Perchloroethylene in Dry-Cleaning Facilities in the UAE journal August 2018

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