Micronuclei in epithelial cells from sputum of uranium workers
The exfoliated-cell micronucleus (MN) assay was used to assess cytogenetic effects of exposure to radon progeny and cigarette smoke among 99 Colorado plateau uranium workers. Subjects were selected at random from employees in underground and open-pit uranium mines, ore mills, laboratories, and offices participating in a sputum screening program from 1964-88. The prevalence of cells with MN was determined by scoring one sputum specimen for each worker. Data obtained by interview were used to classify exposure to radon progeny and smoking at the time sputum specimens were taken. Underground miners were considered exposed to radon progeny, and others were considered unexposed. Neither radon progeny exposure nor cigarette smoking had any appreciable effect on the prevalence of cells with MN; crude prevalence ratios were 1.0 (95% CI 0.7-1.4) and 0.9 (95% CE 0.6-1.3), respectively. The effects of radon and smoking were not confounded by each other or by age, and there was no evidence of synergy between exposures. The findings appear to cast doubt on the epidemiological utility of a sputum-based MN assay for studies of other populations exposed to occupational or environmental lung carcinogens.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Health Effects Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5318411
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-199935/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Scandinavian Jnl. of Work, Environment and Health, v16 n5 p355-362 Oct 90. Prepared in cooperation with North Carolina Univ. at Chapel Hill. Dept. of Epidemiology, and Saint Mary's Hospital and Medical Center, Grand Junction, CO. Sponsored by National Cancer Inst., Bethesda, MD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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