Biomaterial Database

Effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on somatic chromosomes of coal tar workers. 1998

J S Yadav, and N Seth

Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, India.

The genotoxic effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on somatic human chromosomes obtained from lymphocytes of 49 coal tar workers exposed to 26 micrograms/m3 benzo(a)pyrene, 16 mg/m3 benzene and 0.04 mg/m3 H2S in the ambient air, compared to equal numbers of matched controls breathing air containing 1 microgram/m3 benzo(a)pyrene, 1.5 mg/m3 benzene and 0.02 mg/m3 H2S, was investigated. The mitotic index (MI), chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and satellite associations (SAs) were analysed. All the parameters showed a significant increase (p < 0.01 and 0.05) in the exposed individuals compared with the controls: viz MI, 4.59-7.92; CAs, 0.77-3.0; SCEs, 5.89-6.80; and SAs, 8.18-14.26. The occurrence of the DG type of satellite associations were highest and the 3D type lowest. The frequency of SCEs was highest in coal tar workers with an exposure period of 6-10 years. It is suggested that these results show PAH is genotoxic for humans.

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
D008940	Mitotic Index	An expression of the number of mitoses found in a stated number of cells.	Index, Mitotic,Indices, Mitotic,Mitotic Indices
D011084	Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons	Aromatic hydrocarbons that contain extended fused-ring structures.	Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon,Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic,Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon,Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons,Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Polycyclic,Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Polynuclear,Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic,Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polynuclear,Aromatic Polycyclic Hydrocarbons,Hydrocarbon, Polycyclic Aromatic,Hydrocarbon, Polynuclear Aromatic,Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Polycyclic,Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic Aromatic,Hydrocarbons, Polynuclear Aromatic
D002274	Carcinogens, Environmental	Carcinogenic substances that are found in the environment.	Environmental Carcinogens
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002869	Chromosome Aberrations	Abnormal number or structure of chromosomes. Chromosome aberrations may result in CHROMOSOME DISORDERS.	Autosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Aberrations,Abnormalities, Autosome,Abnormalities, Chromosomal,Abnormalities, Chromosome,Chromosomal Aberrations,Chromosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Abnormalities,Aberration, Chromosomal,Aberration, Chromosome,Aberration, Cytogenetic,Aberrations, Chromosomal,Aberrations, Chromosome,Aberrations, Cytogenetic,Abnormalities, Cytogenetic,Abnormality, Autosome,Abnormality, Chromosomal,Abnormality, Chromosome,Abnormality, Cytogenetic,Autosome Abnormality,Chromosomal Aberration,Chromosomal Abnormalities,Chromosomal Abnormality,Chromosome Aberration,Chromosome Abnormality,Cytogenetic Aberration,Cytogenetic Abnormality
D002877	Chromosomes, Human	Very long DNA molecules and associated proteins, HISTONES, and non-histone chromosomal proteins (CHROMOSOMAL PROTEINS, NON-HISTONE). Normally 46 chromosomes, including two sex chromosomes are found in the nucleus of human cells. They carry the hereditary information of the individual.	Chromosome, Human,Human Chromosome,Human Chromosomes
D003033	Coal Tar	A by-product of the destructive distillation of coal used as a topical antieczematic. It is an antipruritic and keratoplastic agent used also in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin conditions. Occupational exposure to soots, tars, and certain mineral oils is known to be carcinogenic according to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985) (Merck Index, 11th ed).	Clinitar,Estar,Tar, Coal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006862	Hydrogen Sulfide	A flammable, poisonous gas with a characteristic odor of rotten eggs. It is used in the manufacture of chemicals, in metallurgy, and as an analytical reagent. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Hydrogen Sulfide (H2(Sx)),Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S2),Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S3),Sulfide, Hydrogen