Study of chromosome aberrations OH the workers occupationally exposed to thorium and rare earth mixed dust

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of thorium and rare earth mixed dust on chromosome aberrations in the lymphocytes of occupational exposed worker8.Methods Analyses of unstable chromosome aberrations on 53 occupational exposed worker8 and 58 control workers were carried out by the conventional Giemsa staining method.Fluorescence in situ hybridization method Wills performed to analyze the chromosome stable aberrations on 10 occupational exposed workers and 10 control workers.Results The frequencies of chromosomal aberration cells,dicentfics plus rings,total aberrations in exposed workers were significantly higher than those in controls.No significant difference was found in the frequency of acentric aberrations between exposed and non-exposed workers.No significant difference was found in the frequency of translocations between exposed and non-exposed workers.Conclusions Chronically occupational exposure to thorium and rare earthmixed dust can increase the induction of unstable chromosome aberration,but the increase of stable chromosome aberrations(translocation)can not be observed. Key words: Occupational exposure; Thorium and rare earth mixed dust; Lymphocyte; Chromosome aberration