Clastogenic effects of zinc chloride on human peripheral blood leucocytes in vitro

The clastogenic effects of three different concentrations of zinc chloride on human peripheral blood leucocytes were studied in vitro. The highest concentration (1.5 x 10(-3) M) was lethal after 48 and 72 h of culture and no blast cells were formed. The two lower concentrations (3.0 x 10(-4) M and 3.0 x 10(-5) M) significantly reduced the frequency of cell division, induced chromatid breaks and damaged cells in frequencies significantly higher than in control experiments maintained in sodium chloride and in distilled water.