Lymphocyte Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) Frequencies in Coke Oven Workers

Abstract

Lymphocyte sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies were determined for 12 long-term coke oven workers and 12 other age-matched steelworkers with no coke oven work exposure. All study participants were nonsmokers. The exposed group had a mean of 28.9 yr exposure to the coke oven emissions. SCE frequencies for the exposed individuals ranged from 7.97-11.20 SCE/cell while the control individuals ranged from 6.73-10.60 SCE/cell. The mean SCE frequency for the exposed group was 9.54 .+-. SD 1.15 SCE/cell, and was 14% higher than the 8.35 .+-. SD 1.09 SCE/cell of the control group (P = 0.016). The long-term exposure to coke oven emissions experienced by the coke oven workers may be the explanation for this small difference. [This study may be applicable to carcinogenesis.].