Studies on breakage in DNA chain of lymphocytes in rubber workers

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of exposure to rubber production on lymphocytic DNA damage in the workers.Methods With comet assay,lymphocytic damage in 281 production workers and 90 managerial workers of a rubber factory were examined for lymphocytic DNA damage.Results Tail moment(TM)in comet assay was greater in the production workers(1 77μm)than in the managerial workers(1 52μm),with a P value of 0 04,and the largest TM was observed in workers of the mixers,followed by the finishers,the calendering workers,vulcanizers and maintenance workers,and the smallest TM was seen in the managerial workers,with F of 3 21 and P value of 0 008.TM could be increased by smoking,adjusted for other covariates.Conclusions Occupational exposure in rubber production and smoking could cause lymphocytic DNA damage in the workers.