[Study of environmental pollution and damage of cytogenetic materials in urban residents]

Recently, epidemiologic data have indicated that the number of deaths caused by malignant tumor presented a significantly rise in Beicun countryside of Datong city. In order to understand the causes of high incidence of cancer, factors were investigated and analysed related to air, river water, drinking water, vegetables and human serum. Results showed that Benzo (a)-pyrene (Bap), total suspended particulates (TSP) in air, nitrate, nitrite in drinking water and vegetables were all significantly higher in Beicun countryside region than those in controlled countryside region, respectively (P < 0.01-P < 0.001). The micronuclei (MN) and berration nucleus (AN) rates of cultured lymphocytes were significantly higher while cpm value of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) test were significantly lower than those in controlled region among residents in Beicun countryside region, respectively (P < 0.01-P < 0.001). The micronuclei, abrerration nucleus rates and cpm value of cultured lymphocytes among residents in Beicun countryside were strongly correlated with Bap, TSP, nitrite and nitrate contents in determination samples. Our results suggest that the air and water source under serious pollution may serve as an important factor causing cytogenetic damage among residents and cancer death rise in Beicun countryside.