Cytogenetic study of persons occupationally exposed to ethylene oxide

Ten persons occupationally exposed to ethylene oxide (EO), used in the sterilization of medical instruments, were studied at a hospital. The estimated concentration to which they were exposed was 60-69 ppm, TWA. Peripheral blood samples from 10 workers and 10 controls of the same age and sex were taken to determine the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations (CA). The mean frequencies of SCE/cell (X = S) were 13.27 for the exposed workers and 6.05 for controls. Chromosome aberration frequencies in exposed individuals were significantly increased compared with controls. A significant relationship between the frequencies of SCE and CA and EO exposure was demonstrated. Blood chemistry parameters such as urea, creatinine, uric acid, lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic and pyruvic transaminases, luteinizing gonadotropin and follicle stimulating gonadotropin and thyrotropin were also measured and found to be within the normal range.