Sister chromatid exchanges among workers occupationally exposed to phenoxy acid herbicides 2,4-D and MCPA

The induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was studied in the peripheral lymphocytes of workers spraying foliage in forestry with phenoxy acid herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) or their mixtures. In order to follow possible exposure-related changes in the frequencies of SCEs, three successive blood samples were taken from 50 male sprayers during the spraying season of July-October, 1981. In addition, 15 control subjects not working with herbicides were included in the study. The actual exposure levels of the exposed subjects were estimated by measuring the concentrations of 2,4-D and MCPA in the urine of the sprayers. Enough cells for the SCE analysis were obtained from 35 herbicide workers and 15 control subjects. The concentrations of 2,4-D and MCPA in the urine samples after exposure varied from 0.00 to 10.99 mg/l. No significant differences in the frequencies of SCEs were observed in samples taken before, during, or after the exposure. Furthermore, the means of SCEs in a nonexposed control group of 15 subjects fell in the same range as those of the exposed subjects. A difference in the means of SCEs was observed between nonsmokers and smokers, smokers having significantly higher mean values than nonsmokers. The results of the present study add support to the earlier data indicating that 2,4-D and MCPA do not act as direct DNA-damaging agents.