Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis - Legacy Tobacco ...

495 - 1989 EMS Abstracts
IONIZING RADIATION AND GENETIC RISKS : CURRENT STATUS NO `eS
K . Sankaranarayanan, Daf'artment of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Hutagenesis,
Sylvius Laboratories, State University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
Estimates of the risk of genetic disease in the progeny of parents or populations
exposed to ionizing radiai>on are made on the basis of mutation data from animal
experiments and using a number of assumptions to bridge the gap Tetween induced
mutation and genetic disease in man . The natural prevalence of genetic and multifactorial
diseases in the population provides not only a framework for risk perception,
but also is used in the act¢ffl calculattde of risks .
Current estimates of genetic risks relate primarily to expected increases in the
frequencies of those diseases with Mendelian patterns of inheritance ; their natural
prevalence is of the order of 1 .25% . However, for multifactorial diseases, whose
natural life-time prevalence is well over 50%, no reliable estimates of risk can be
made in view of the fact that the relationship between mutation and disease is not
well-understood . Animal studies using multifactorial traits as indicators of genetic
damage and the genetic studies of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki populations (in the latter
two of the indicators used are multifactorial) have failed to demonstrate significant
adverse effects as a result of radiation exposures . However, as is well-known,
mutation studies with experimental mammals have provided good evidence for the induction
of mutations . The possible reasons for these discrepancies will be briefly
discussed . Additionally, the relevance of knowledge on the nature of spontaneous and
radiation-induced mutations in the context of risk estimation will be considered .
496
IMMUNOLOGIC METHONS FOR THE DETECTION OF CARCINOGEN ADDUCTS IN HUMANS
R . M . Santella, Columbia University New York, NY
Monoclonal ant,ibodies have been developed which recognize a number of
carcinogen-DNA and protein adducts . These antibodies can be used in highly
sensitive competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to detect femtomole
levels of adducts in human samples . With the most sensitive antibodies, DNK adducts
in the range of 1/l0s nucleotides can be measured . In addition, antibodies to DNA
adducts can be used to investigate localization of adducts in specific cell types .
We have used antibodies recognizing the major edduct of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) to
monitor adducts in lymphocyte DNA of foundry workers and smokers end nonsmokers .
Adducts in lung tissue of cancer patients and placental tissue of smokers and
nonsmokers have also be analyzed . Because of antibody crossreactivity with
structurally related adducts of other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, this assay
is not specific for BP adducts . Monoclonal antibodies against 8-methoxypsorelen-•DNA
adducts have been used to monitor adducts in psoriasis patients treated with this
chemotherapeutic agent . Immunofluoreacence staining of skin biopsies from patients
demonstrated adduct localization to epidermal cells . Studies with antibodies to
aflatoxin-Ri-DNA adducts were used to detect elevated levels of adducts in liver
tissue from Taiwanese hopatocellular cancer patients . Adduct detection in humans is
now established as a viable method for determination of exposure to certain chemical
carcinogens . The relationship of adduct. measurements to risk requires further
investigation .
497
CYrOGEMETIC RISK ASSES9Etfr OF OPERATI011 T/EATRE PERSOI~EL
S .T . SANIHIYA . V. Padsrani and A. Raassh. Departsant of Genetics . University of Madras, Madras - 600 113
(India) . Occupational health risk to personnel working in operation theatres have been extensively
studied . Although results are controversial . many agree that they constitute a potentially risk group and
needs to be periodically aonitored . This is particularly relevant, to countries,Yhere safety NasurN
at work places receive less priority than desired . Therefore, the present work is contemplated to assess
cytoyenetic risk on anaesthetists and supportive staff aeployed in a major referral hospital of Madras .
The study group consisted of 16 snaasthetists and 4 theatre assistants serving for 1-33 years (13 .50 s
7 .6) in several surgical theatres, which do not have any scavenging device . N40, ether and halothane are
being used aither singly or in combination . Control group (n - 20) consisted of persons with different
occupational set up . satched for possible confounding variablas . Cytopenetic damage !s assessad in terms
of chroaososal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) observed !n 48 and 72h lysphocyte
cultures of peripheral blood . Stp-rise regression analysis was performed taking duration of service (xl),
ege (x )u sex (x3) and saokinp status (x4) as indepandent variables and risk aeasures (f setaphuas with
and vi~hout gaps - CA (G .) and CA (G -) and SCE/cell) as dependent variables using SPSS . Only xl !s the
significant determinant of the variation in CA . This accounted for 609 upvards of the variation . For
SCE . both x) and x3 are significant detersinants. xl alone explained eef of the variation and both together
accounted for about 915 of the variation !n SCE . 8ased on these findings, it is concluded that persons
working in theatres devoid of scavenging measures are at potential risk of genetic damage which appears
to increase with duration of service .
analysis .
Thanks to our Prof .P .M.Gopinath for encouragement and Dr .M .Laks)ranan . CMC. Vellore for Computer
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/clb93d00/pdf
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