[Buccal epithelial micronuclear test in the comprehensive assessment of children's ecological well-being in Moscow]

In the buccal epithelial micronuclear test, only the higher frequency of cells with any nuclear degenerative changes is considered to be attributable to the adverse influence of environmental factors. Comprehensive examination of 223 children of 5-7 years of age, going to kindergartens and schools has indicated that the frequency of cells with nuclear chromatin condensation and incomplete nuclear lysis decreased when ambient air contamination was increased in the territories of children's establishments and when the child's throat was contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus or the pharyngeal resident microflora inhibited. Some poor conditions of the nasal and buccal mucosae were also associated with the increase or decrease of cell frequencies. It is suggested that nuclear chromatin condensation and nuclear lysis (rather than other signs of cell degeneration and death) reflect natural cell aging. A moderate toxic effect causes epitheliocytic physiological development retardation and a more intensive effect accelerates aging of cells and induces their death.