Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Of Workers Research Articles

Effects of high-level exposure to lead on NK cell activity and T-lymphocyte functions in workers.

1. NK and T cell functions were measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers occupationally exposed to lead. 2. No differences were found in these functions even in those workers with higher levels of blood and urine lead and urinary delta-ALA than the currently accepted biological limit values as compared to controls. 3. We conclude that high chronic exposure to lead is not associated with an impairment or either T- or NK cell functions in man.

The scientific development of a former gold mine near Badgastein, Austria, to the therapeutic facility “Thermal Gallery”

The air in the Thermal Gallery (22 000 m 3 has a mean radon content of about 100 kBq/L, temperatures of up to 41 °C, and relative humidities of up to 99%. Due to these unusual conditions and to the first observations of health effects (curing of colds and rheumatic diseases) on mine workers during World War II, the idea was born in 1946 to use that abandoned mine as a big radon inhalation room for therapeutical purposes. This paper describes the historical development of the vast and detailed investigations, the facilities available at that time, of the physical mine properties, and the biophysical and basic medical effects after inhalation of the mine's atmosphere. The physical investigations included the variation of temperature and humidity with artificial and natural ventilation and numerous point measurements of the atmospheric radon content, which continously changed from site to site and day to day. These measurements showed that randon is supplied from the fissures in the rocks in response to changes in barometric pressure. Furthermore, the relation of the amounts of radon to its decay products were determined for the various sites. The biophysical investigations covered the solubility of radon in blood at high body temperatures (hyperthermia) and the determination of the dose in the various tissues and organs in animals and humans after inhalation of radon and its daughters. Individual assessments of personal doses according to the dose and dose distribution studies enabled a detailed investigation of the nonlinear dose dependence of radiation-induced structural chromosome aberrations in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers entering the mine and of persons living and working in the spa house in front of the mine and in the area of Badgastein. The basic medical information was obtained from voluntary collaborators and patients, brought into the mine for experimental purposes. They included hematological and cardiovascular tests, observations of mobility enhancements, and personally recorded pain reliefs. Due to these studies, the commercial therapeutic use could be started in 1952. Today, more than 500 patients per day can be treated.

Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in workers occupationally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls

The ability of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to induce chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in peripheral lymphocytes was studied in a group of workers occupationally exposed to PCBs during the production of the Czechoslovak PCB products Delor 103 and Delor 106. The effect of PCB exposure was compared between an exposed group (N = 32, 3.25 +/- 0.34% aberrant cells, AB.C.), control group 1 (N = 20, 1.30 +/- 0.29% AB.C.), and control group 2 (N = 20, 1.60 +/- 0.31% AB.C.). The length of PCB exposure over 10 yr increased the frequency of AB.C. in a group exposed for 11-15 yr to 3.40% (N = 5) and in a group exposed for 16-25 yr to 5.85% (N = 7) vs. an increase of 1.60% AB.C. in group C2 and of SCE to 12.6 +/- 0.9/cell vs. 6.9 +/- 0.7 SCE/cell in C2. The clastogenic activity observed in this group may be the result of a high PCB concentration in blood plasma (320 +/- 190 micrograms PCB/l), and it is probably related to its solubility in adipose tissue, when it may act as another mutagen and carcinogen biotransformation inducer.

Chromosomal monitoring of chromium-exposed workers

A cytogenetic analysis was carried out on peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to chromite in a ferrochromium plant, to evaluate the possible existence of genetic damage. A quantitatively limited increase in aberrant cell frequencies was detected in subjects working in the furnace sector. The data were analyzed by several statistical approaches.

Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in workers exposed to vinyl chloride

In the present study, the method of cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to examine 43 workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer (average exposure 11.2 years) and 22 subjects selected from the same locality (control group). A total number of 8650 metaphases were analysed. All cytogenetic parameters examined were increased in the exposed group as compared to the control group and 3 parameters, chromatid breaks, percentage of aberrant cells and breaks per cell, were significantly increased ( P < 0.001).

Analysis of chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers with occupational exposure to the mancozeb-containing fungicide Novozir Mn80

Chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were analyzed in short-term cultures of peripheral lymphocytes of 44 workers occupationally exposed to mancozeb during the production of the pesticide Novozir Mn80 and 30 control persons. The results suggest that mancozeb exposure was associated with a significant increase in the frequencies of cells with structural chromosome aberrations (2.07% vs. 1.10% in the controls), and the number of SCEs per cell (9.19 ± 1.81 vs. 7.82 ± 1.04 in the controls).

The enhancement of the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers in semiconductor plant.

The enhancement of the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers in semiconductor plant.

Chromosome analysis from peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers after an acute exposure to benzene.

A spillage of about 1200 gallons of benzene occurred during the loading of a ship, and 10 workers on a single shift were exposed to benzene. Shortly afterwards, an assay of the urine of these individuals showed that substantial amounts of phenol were being excreted. About three months after the incident samples of venous blood were taken from 10 individuals exposed to benzene and 11 men on a comparable shift who acted as controls. The lymphocytes were stimulated to divide in short term cultures. For each subject, 200 cells at metaphase were examined for chromosome damage using 48 h cultures, and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were analysed from about 30 cells in their second division, using 72 h cultures. The most frequent types of aberrations in all the individuals were chromatid gaps, with occasional breaks of chromatids and chromosomes. There were few exchanges within or between the arms of chromatids or chromosomes. More cells in the control than in the exposed group showed damage, an effect that was especially noticeable for chromatid gaps. All values, however, were considered to be within a normal range. There were slightly more SCE in some of the exposed individuals than in the controls and there was a trend towards a positive association between the frequency of SCE recorded for each individual and the maximum value for the excretion of phenol in the urine on the day after the incident. There is no evidence to indicate that benzene induced any type of lasting chromosome damage in the lymphocytes of the 10 exposed workers when cells were examined about three months after the incident.