CHROMOSOME CHANGES IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO MOTOR FUELS AND EXHAUST FUMES

In order to find out whether occupational exposure to motor fuels and their combustion residues causes chromosome damage, four groups of employees were examined: (1) drivers of lorries run on diesel, (2) drivers of lorries run on petrol, (3) inspectors at the Swedish motor vehicle inspection company, and (4) a control group of office employees. Chromosome preparations from lymphocytes were made and analyzed with standardized, routine methods. The amount of chromosome changes in each person was determined with three parameters: (1) the frequency of chromosome breaks (chromatid + isochromatid), (2) the frequency of chromosome aberrations (breaks + gaps), and (3) the number of sister chromatid exchanges (sce) per cell. The results obtained were analyzed with non-parametric statistical methods with respect to the possible effects of smoking and occupational milieu. The total material shows an evident association between smoking and chromosome changes, irrespective of the parameter used. The effect of smoking is also fully established with respect to the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges.the effect of motor fuels and/or their combustion residues is more difficult to evaluate. Our interpretation of the results obtained is that the suspicion remains that a working milieu containing - mainly - diesel fuel can give rise to an increased number of chromosome changes. (TRRL)