Chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in styrene-exposed workers with reference to their smoking habits

Abstract

The incidences of chromosome aberrations and the frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were investigated in cultured lymphocytes of 18 styrene‐exposed workers in comparison with six controls. There was a marginal increase in the incidence of structural chromosomal aberrations in first‐division metaphases in the styrene‐exposed workers, as compared with the nonexposed controls. However, there was no difference in SCE frequencies. When each group was divided into smokers and nonsmokers, styrene‐exposed smokers tended to have higher SCE frequencies than styrene‐exposed nonsmokers. Furthermore, cell proliferation was inhibited in styrene‐exposed workers (both smokers and nonsmokers) and control smokers.