CHROMOSOME-ABERRATIONS INDUCED BY OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO MERCURY

The incidence of chromosome aberrations was studied by peripheral blood incubation (52 hr, the last 4 hr in the presence of Colcemid) using a modification of the Evans' technique in 22 men exposed to either vapors of metallic mercury (group I) or organic mercury (group II). Mercury concentrations of the work areas frequently exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations in the past. During the year proceeding the investigation, mercury values ranged between 0.15 and 0.44 mg/m3. None of the investigated men were poisoned, but all had had repeated increased mercury absorption with urinary eliminations reaching 890 μg/l and 896 μg/l for subjects in groups I and II, respectively. The incidence of chromosome aberrations was significantly higher (P < .001) in subjects exposed to mercury as compared with a control group (10 subjects) of a similar mean age. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of chromosome aberrations between men belonging to groups I and II. Although an increase of both chromatid gaps and breaks was noticed in exposed men, the incidence did not significantly differ from controls. No chromatid interchanges were recorded and no difference between exposed and control subjects was noticed concerning the frequency of aneploid or polyploid cells.