1 GENOTOXICITY BIOMARKERS AMONG FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSED SUBJECTS IN ANATOMY & EMBRYOLOGY DEPARTMENTS, FACULTY OF MEDICINE ZAGAZIG UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Introduction: A genotoxic effect of formaldehyde (FA), particularly micronucleus (MN) induction and chromosomal aberrations (CA) has been shown in several previous studies. Aim of work: The aim of the present study was (1): to assess formaldehyde air concentration in different areas of mortuary and museum of Anatomy& Embryology department of Zagazig Faculty of Medicine (2) to measure frequency of micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the workers and staff members working in the Anatomy & Embryology department of Zagazig Faculty of Medicine as a measure of formaldehyde carcinogenicity. Materials and Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was carried out in Anatomy & Embryology departments of Zagazig Faculty of Medicine, where 42 subjects (occupationally exposed to formaldehyde vapors) were participated in the study and similar number of unexposed subjects was included for comparison. Exposure assessment was performed by environmental monitoring for formaldehyde concentration in the air within the mortuary and museum using a specific apparatus. Evaluation of genotoxic effects was performed by application of micronucleus test and searching for chromosomal aberrations (CA) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the included subjects. Results: Time weighted average concentrations of FA (TWA8h) (measured in different spots within the mortuary and museum) exceeded the reference value (0.75 ppm according to OSHA Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits) with mean concentration of (4.7 ppm). The frequency of micronucleus in peripheral blood lymphocytes was detected in the exposed and control group (MN mean frequency =1.4 and 0.9 respectively). Chromosomal changes were detected to a lesser extent in the two groups (mean frequency of chromosomal changes in the two groups = 0.5 and 0.5 respectively). No significant variation was proven regarding these genotoxic parameters between the two comparative groups, and also between staff members, workers of the mortuary. Conclusion and Recommendations: The population studied in this work is exposed to high concentration of formaldehyde for variable durations, which can be a cause of genotoxicity on the long run so, although the insignificant genotoxic parameters in our research. We recommend further investigations with broader scope, sophisticated tests and larger sample size in future human studies.