Cytogenetic studies on rural populations exposed to pesticides

The authors have carried out cytological analysis of 72 h lymphocyte cultures from peripheral blood and internal examinations of 80 workers professionally exposed to a complex of pesticides and that of 24 control persons. There was a significant increase of chromosome aberrations in relation to the duration of exposure. The additive role of alcohol consumption and smoking in evoking aberrations was also studied with inconclusive results because of the limited number of cases. Internal examinations revealed a more frequent occurrence of acute as well as chronic diseases among the workers aged 21-40 years.