Biomaterial Database

Increased frequency of sister chromatid exchange in workers exposed to high doses of methylmethacrylate. 1991

T Marez, and P Shirali, and H F Hildebrand, and J M Haguenoer

Laboratoire de Toxicologie, Institut de Médecine du Travail, Faculté de Médecine, Lille, France.

Methylmethacrylate (MMA) is a volatile liquid widely used in the manufacture of acrylic polymers. Apart from its general toxicity (cardiac, respiratory, cutaneous, etc.), MMA is a potential mutagenic agent. Data on the mutagenicity of MMA is available almost exclusively with in vitro systems, thus the demonstration of genetic effects produced by monomeric MMA vapours in exposed workers is valuable additional information. An in vivo sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test was performed using lymphocytes from 31 workers occupationally exposed to MMA and a control group of 31 men whose mean age and smoking habits were similar. Our results indicate that the number of SCE in exposed workers (7.85 +/- 2.66) was not higher than the control group (7.49 +/- 2.33). However, the rate of SCE was significantly higher in the group exposed to MMA at peak concentrations ranging from 114 to 400 p.p.m. A few cells with a large number of SCE, called 'high frequency cells' (HFC), are responsible for this increase.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008571	Men	Human males as cultural, psychological, sociological, political, and economic entities.	Boys
D008768	Methylmethacrylates	The methyl esters of methacrylic acid that polymerize easily and are used as tissue cements, dental materials, and absorbent for biological substances.
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009153	Mutagens	Chemical agents that increase the rate of genetic mutation by interfering with the function of nucleic acids. A clastogen is a specific mutagen that causes breaks in chromosomes.	Clastogen,Clastogens,Genotoxin,Genotoxins,Mutagen
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000395	Air Pollutants, Occupational	Toxic air-borne matter related to work performed They are usually produced by the specific nature of the occupation.	Occupational Air Pollutants,Pollutants, Occupational Air
D012854	Sister Chromatid Exchange	An exchange of segments between the sister chromatids of a chromosome, either between the sister chromatids of a meiotic tetrad or between the sister chromatids of a duplicated somatic chromosome. Its frequency is increased by ultraviolet and ionizing radiation and other mutagenic agents and is particularly high in BLOOM SYNDROME.	Chromatid Exchange, Sister,Chromatid Exchanges, Sister,Exchange, Sister Chromatid,Exchanges, Sister Chromatid,Sister Chromatid Exchanges
D012907	Smoking	Willful or deliberate act of inhaling and exhaling SMOKE from burning substances or agents held by hand.	Smoking Behaviors,Smoking Habit,Behavior, Smoking,Behaviors, Smoking,Habit, Smoking,Habits, Smoking,Smoking Behavior,Smoking Habits