[Genetic approaches to evaluating safety of human environmental factors]

Main achievements made in genetic toxicology in the past 40 years are analyzed. Guidelines for estimating gene toxic agents have been developed and a database pertaining to the mutagenicity of several thousands of chemicals has been set up. Experience in evaluating human mutagenic effects has been accumulated. It is necessary to develop a current toxicological and sanitary classification of mutagenic xenobiotics, to take a stock of environmental gene toxic agents by their activity and pollution in the areas of Russia, to work out criteria for the actual genetic hazards (a genetic risk) of mutagens entered the human habitat, to study a human individual response to mutagenes and to make "a genetic certification", and to analyze the feasibility of human genome protection from environmental mutagenic factors.