Hprt mutant lymphocyte frequencies in workers in a petrochemical plant
- Univ. of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX (United States)
The autoradiographic hprt mutant lymphocyte assay was used to evaluate a population of petrochemical workers employed in the manufacture of styrene and xylenes and potentially exposed to benzene. Production units were areas of potential high exposure and other areas of the same facility were areas of low exposure. Exposures to benzene, styrene and xylenes were determined in workers from production units using 3M passive badge dosimeters. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were cryopreserved then thawed and assayed to determine the frequency of hprt mutants using the autoradiographic version of the assay. Exposures were measured on 23 workers in production areas and 3 in low exposure areas. Average exposures in the production areas were less than 0.027 ppm for benzene, and 1 ppm for styrene and xylene. Hprt variant (mutant) frequencies (Vf) were determined for 9 workers in production areas, 11 in non-production areas and 12 outside controls. All were non-smokers. The mean Vf ({+-} SD) per million evaluatable cells for the three groups were 3.01 {+-}1.68, 1.82{+-}0.87, and 1.80{+-}0.80 respectively. The two control groups were not significantly different from each other and, when combined, were significantly different from the production area group (p<0.04, Kruskal Wallis ANOVA). A tenth worker in the production area group with a Vf of 21.16 was excluded from analysis. Further investigation is needed to identify potential source(s) of mutagen exposure.
- OSTI ID:
- 530873
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9704100-; ISSN 0893-6692; TRN: 97:003016-0046
- Journal Information:
- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, Vol. 29, Issue Suppl.28; Conference: 28. annual meeting of the Environmental Mutagen Society, Minneapolis, MN (United States), 19-23 Apr 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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