Evaluation of genotoxic hazard in workers of a rubber factory: comparison of the comet assay in lymphocytes with the mutagenic activity in the urine.

Starting date
September 1, 1999
Duration (months)
48
Departments
Diagnostics and Public Health
Managers or local contacts
Fracasso Maria Enrica

Rubber industry workers are potentially exposed to several carinogens and to a great amount of raw materials whose toxicological profiles are usually ill-defined. Furthermore, during the various rubber manufacturing processess, hot fumes are emitted which may contain newly formed chemicals endowed of biological activity.
In a previuos study we used bacterial mutagenicity assay and chemical methods to investigate genotoxicity of air in a rubber factory. The sample showed consistent direct and indirect mutagenicity on S. typhimurium strains. The chemical analysis revealed that the contaminants consisted mainly of compounds which were formed during rubber processing operations. Date indicate that the workers of this factory are exposed to mutagenic chemical substances. In addition the alkaline comet assay revealed an increase of DNA damage in lymphocytes of expose workers

Sponsors:

ISPESL
Funds: assigned and managed by the department

Project participants

Publications
Title Authors Year
Exposure to mutagenic airborne particulate in a rubber manufacturing plant. Fracasso M.E., Franceschetti P., Mossini E., Tieghi S., Perbellini L., Romeo L. 1999

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