Cytogenetic study in workers occupationally exposed to mercury fulminate

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Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the cytogenetic effects in male workers exposed to mercury fulminate. A total of 29 male workers and 29 age-and sex-matched controls were examined. The mean mercury level in urine from the exposed workers was 123.2 ± 54.1 μg/ compared with 39.2 ± 11.1 μg/1 in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Metaphase chromosomes were studied. Micronucleated peripheral blood lymphocytes were also analyzed in cytochalasin B blocked binucleated lymphocytes. The percentage of metaphases with chromosomal aberrations was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the exposed group (6.1 ± 2.3) compared to the control group (2.8 ± 0.7). The chromosomal aberrations detected were in the from of gaps, breaks and fragments. A significant increase in the incidence of micronucleated lymphocytes was found among the exposed group (7.1 ± 4.2) compared to the control group (5.4 ± 2.2) (p < 0.01). The detected chromosomal damage correlated neither with the duration of exosure nor with the urinary mercury level.

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