Evaluation of chromosomal aberrations caused by air pollutants in some taxi drivers from two polluted districts of urban Tehran and its comparison with drivers from rural areas of Lahijan: a pilot study.

Sara Taghizadeh,Hossein Najmabadi,Koorosh Kamali,Farkhondeh Behjati

doi:10.1186/s40201-014-0144-0

Abstract

BackgroundChromosome instability is the most common form of genomic instability. Genomic instability can lead to tumorogenesis. High level of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes can be used as a biomarker for cancer. Air pollution is one of the most important factors that cause chromosomal instability (CIN). In this comparative study we used classic Cytogenetic technique to analyze the effects of air pollutants on chromosome stability. We collected peripheral blood from 30 taxi drivers of two polluted districts (districts 6 and 7) in Tehran and 30 taxi drivers from rural areas of Lahijan, north of Iran.ResultsComparison of the level of chromosome breakage in the two groups showed an increased level of chromosome breakage in the drivers from polluted districts of Tehran, although not significant, using Fisher exact test (p-value = 0.300). However, the overall chromosome aberration rate (including both chromosome and chromatid gaps), the difference was significant using Chi-square test (p-value = 0.012).ConclusionAn increased level of chromosome aberration was present in the drivers from polluted districts of Tehran compared to drivers from non-polluted areas in Lahijan.

Highlights

Air pollution is concerned with many ill effects on health including pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, cancer as well as increased mortality [1]
Sampling The study population consisted of 30 taxi drivers from two polluted districts in Tehran and 30 taxi drivers from Lahijan (North of Iran)
In this study, we have discovered an increased level of chromosome aberration in the drivers from polluted districts of Tehran

Summary

Introduction

Air pollution is concerned with many ill effects on health including pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, cancer as well as increased mortality [1]. A relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and high exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy has been reported [2] This has been demonstrated in children and pregnant mothers living in industrial regions. Different studies have evaluated the genetic damage in residents in polluted cities and compared them with those living in rural areas. They have shown that air pollution can have carcinogenic effect causing chromosomal aberrations in adults [5]. Air pollution is one of the most important factors that cause chromosomal instability (CIN) In this comparative study we used classic Cytogenetic technique to analyze the effects of air pollutants on chromosome stability. We collected peripheral blood from 30 taxi drivers of two polluted districts (districts 6 and 7) in Tehran and 30 taxi drivers from rural areas of Lahijan, north of Iran

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion