[Kinetics of cell division in peripheral blood lymphocytes of stainless steel welders]

Stainless steel welders are not potential occupational risk of geno- and cytotoxic exposure to chemical mutagens and carcinogens contained in welding fumes. The studies of biological activity of welding fumes evidence their cytotoxicity which depends on chromium and nickel content. In 20 stainless steel welders exposed to chromium and nickel contained in welding fumes, kinetics of cell division was assessed in the culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes. No significant differences were found in the cell division rates between the group of exposed welders and the controls. In welders who smoke, the number of cells present after 70 hrs in the third mitotic division, was reduced in comparison to smokers in the control group what may be considered as a symptom of cytotoxic effect of a combined exposure to welding fumes and tobacco smoke.