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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling
Published on: March 20, 2018
Vinyl chloride and vinyl benzene (styrene)--metabolism, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity
Abstract:
Vinyl chloride and vinyl benzene (styrene) are mutagenic in microbial tests, in Drosophila, in yeast, and in mammalian cells. Reports from various countries have shown an excess of chromosomal aberrations in the lymphocytes of workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer when the workers were compared with controls. Workers occupationally exposed to styrene also revealed a clear increase in the rate of chromosome aberrations in their lymphocytes. Both chloroethylene oxide and styrene oxide, the primary biotransformation products of vinyl chloirde and styrene respectively, bind covalently to cellular macromolecules. Vinyl chloride is a carcinogen in both animals and man. Styrene is currently being tested in animals. These findings, the demonstration of mutagenic response via microbial and other test systems and with observations of significant excesses of chromosomal aberrations among workers exposed to these agents, raise scientific and health oriented concern about the possible genetic risks of vinyl chloride and styrene to man.
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