[Micronuclei in lymphocytes of smokers]

Micronuclei of peripheral blood lymphocytes of 66 smokers and 88 non-smokers in healthy person were determined. The result is that the average presence rate of micronuclei is markedly higher in the former group than in the latter (P less than 0.01). The lymphocytes of micronuclei of peripheral blood in smokers also increased. This shows that there are more chromosome aberrations in the smokers. The practical value of this investigation and the mutagenic mechanism of the smoke and also discussed.