Genetic effects of workers occupationally exposed to mercury using three genetic end-points / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigating genetic effects of workers occupationally exposed to mercury (Hg).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The peripheral lymphocytes from 20 workers exposed to mercury and 20 controls were measured with micronucleus test, comet assay, hrpt gene mutation test and TCR gene mutation test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean micronuclei rate(MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate(MCR) in 20 workers were (5.90 +/- 0.91) per thousand and (5.30 +/- 0.81) per thousand, respectively while MNR and MCR in controls were (1.50 +/- 0.47) per thousand and (1.30 +/- 0.31) per thousand respectively, The difference of MNR and MCR between workers and controls was very significant (P < 0.01). The mean tail length (MTL) of workers and controls were (3.16 +/- 0.31) and (0.99 +/- 0.07) microm, respectively. The mean tail moment (MTM) of workers and controls were 1.63 +/- 0.22 and 0.39 +/- 0.03, respectively, There was a significant difference in MTL and MTM between workers and controls(P < 0.01). When the average mutation frequencies (Mfs-hprt) of hprt and (Mfs-TCR) of TCR of workers were compared with those of controls, there were not significant difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of the investigation indicated that the adverse genetic effects in workers occupationally exposed to mercury could be detected.</p>