Use of the Micronucleus Assay in Occupational Studies Involving Exposure to Genotoxic Chemicals – an Overview

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview on the use of micronucleus (MN) assays in occupational studies involving exposure to different groups of chemical genotoxins. Currently available data show that experiments with lymphocytes detect genetic damage in workers caused by different groups of carcinogens. It is well documented that MN formation in lymphocytes is a valid marker for the detection of cancer risks in humans, this is probably also true for exfoliated buccal cells. Only a few studies with nasal and bladder cells have been realized with chemically exposed workers; the results are promising and indicate that the former approach may be useful for biomonitoring genotoxic effects of inhalative exposures, while the latter detects the effects of genotoxic chemicals that cause cancer in the urothelial tract. Taken together, the evaluation of the data shows that experiments with lymphocytes are currently the most widely used approach in occupational studies and that the number of investigations increased worldwide substantially over the last few years; the latter conclusion is also true for experiments with exfoliated buccal cells, which have the advantage that samples can be collected with non-invasive methods and that no cultivation of the cells is required.