A chromosome study among stainless steel welders

The mutagenicity of welding fumes generated by manual metal arc (MMA) welding of stainless steel (SS) has been shown in several experimental in vitro systems. No data are available on possible chromosome damage among MMA/SS welders. In the present study, structural chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 23 welders and 22 control subjects. No significant differences in the frequency of chromosome aberrations or SCEs were detected between the two groups. Smokers, both welders and controls, showed a significantly higher SCE rate than non-smokers.