Cytogenetic damage in plastic industry workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride

Cytogenetic investigations on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 40 workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride in the plastic industry were undertaken. These were compared with an equal number of occupationally unexposed and matched controls in relation to age, sex and smoking habits. The mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and satellite associations (SA) were analysed. All the parameters showed a significant increase (p <0.01) in the exposed sample compared with the controls, viz MI, 3.64-6.30, CA 1.02-3.77, SCE 3.40-7.83 and SA 5.57-12.05. The occurrence of the DG type of satellite association B was highest and that of 3D type lowest. The frequencies of all the parameters increased with the duration of exposure, but MI declined after 15 years of exposure.