Effects of arsenic exposure on the frequency of HPRT-mutant lymphocytes in a population of copper roasters in Antofagasta, Chile: a pilot study.

Abstract A pilot biomarker study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase ( HPRT ) gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes as a biomarker for detecting genetic effects of arsenic exposure. Blood and urine samples were obtained from workers highly exposed to arsenic in a copper roasting plant in Antofagasta, Chile. Individuals were classified according to their job titles into three potential exposure groups: high, medium, and low. To confirm exposure, arsenic concentration was determined in urine samples. The HPRT mutant frequencies were measured in lymphocytes from 15 individuals ranging in age from 24 to 66 years. The mean mutant frequencies for the three exposure groups were: low (9×10 −6 ), medium (11×10 −6 ), and high (24×10 −6 ). An increased mutant frequency was observed in the highly exposed group, but the response was so slight that it is not likely that this assay will be capable of providing dose–response information across a range of lower, more typical environmental arsenic levels.