[Chromosome aberrations in workers in a printing press]

Using cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes the authors examined three groups of subjects: 42 rotogravure printers exposed to toluene in concentrations of 400-4400 mg.m-3 for a mean period of 13 years, 28 administrative employees of the printing plant exposed to low concentrations of toluene (8-16 mg.m-3) in their offices, whereby more than half of them spent on average two hours in the photogravure workshop, and 32 control subjects. In the printers 3.64% subjects, in the office staff 3.32% aberrant cells were found. The difference between the control group and the two groups from the printing plant was highly significant as regards the number of aberrant cells (P less than 0.005) and chromatid breaks and number of breaks per cell. The higher frequency of aberrant cells in probably associated with exposure to toluene, gravure printing dyes and in all three groups also with the highly contaminated communal atmosphere.