[Genotoxic effects of occupational environment in Kuzbass miners].

The authors studied chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of 100 miners in coal mines of Kuznetsk coal field, with underground length of service over 15 years. Reference data were collected by cytogenetic analysis in a group of workers with long length of service in Kemerovo thermal power plant, contacting coal dust (n = 104) and in healthy males of the same age group, residents of Kemerovo city, without occupational contact with mutagenes (n = 194). The miners appeared to have maximal frequency of structural chromosomal injuries--5.37%. In the workers of thermal power plant, this value was considerably lower than in the miners (4.23%; p < 0.01), but not exceeding the values obtained in the reference groups (1.07%; p < 0.0001). Analysis of qualitative spectrum of chromosomal structural changes revealed that the miners have higher frequency of both chromosomal and chromatid type aberrations. Differences in chromosomal aberrations frequency between the miners and the thermal power plant workers are mostly due to chromosomal type aberrations. This points to significant role of chemical and radiation factors contribution into chromosomal mutagenesis in miners.

[Role of repair gene polymorphism in estimating the sensitivity of human genome to radon in concentrations exceeding maximum permissible level].

The paper gives the results of investigating chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes due to DNA repair genes, such as hOGG1, ADPRT, APE1, XRCC1, XpG, XpC, XpD, and NBS1, upon long-term exposure to excess indoor radon concentrations. The frequency of chromosome aberrations was found to be significantly lower in the carriers of the genotype hOGG1 326 Ser/Ser (versus the variant Ser/Cys), APE1 148 Asp/Asp (versus Val/Ala and Ala/Ala). The study polymorphic systems were shown to be of value in giving rise to individual types of chromosome aberrations (single fragments and chromosome exchanges).

[Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in buccal cells of children living in ecologically different Kuzbass areas].

The article presents the results of the study of micronuclei and other types of cytogenetic aberrations in mucous tunic epithelium cells from children living in two different parts of the Kemerovo region (Tashtagol city, above-standard radon concentration exposition, n = 80), and Krasnoye settlement Leninsk-Kuznetsk area (comparison group, n = 41). The samples studied did not differ in the frequency of micronuclei containing cells. Tashtagol children sample showed significant increase in the number of binuclear cells, buccal epithelial cells with nuclear protrusions and with nuclear vacuoles, pyknotic cells, and apoptosis bodies. Reliable increase in average number of cells with chromatin condensation and kayolysis was found in the comparison group. It has been shown that the frequency of metaphase chromosome aberrations registered in peripheral blood lymphocytes corresponds to the amount of nuclear aberrations detected in buccal epithelium cells using micronuclei test.