[Changes of the certain genotoxicities in workers occupationally exposed to arsenic]

To study the changes of genotoxicities of workers occupationally exposed to arsenic in a mill of Yunnan Province.

The micronucleated cell and micronucleus frequency, comet rate and tail length of lymphocyte in comet assay from peripheral blood, urinary total and organic arsenic were detected and evaluated in 40 workers (exposure group), and also local people who did not contact with any poison obviously (control group).

The micronucleated cell and micronucleus frequencies, the comet rate and tail length of lymphocyte in exposure groups were all more higher than those of controls (P < 0.01). The urinary total and organic arsenic concentrations in exposure groups were more higher than those of controls (all lower than 0.02mg/L for controls). The increased tendencies of micronucleated cells and micronucleus frequencies with the products of organic arsenic concentrations and service length were found in exposure groups(r(s) = 0.356, P = 0.024, r(s) = 0.347, P = 0.028). CONCLUSION indicated that arsenic could induce the damage of chromosome and DNA in lymphocyte of peripheral blood in workers occupationally exposed to arsenic.