Cytogenetic study in children chronically habituated to inhalation of volatile substances

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Abstract
Deliberate inhalation of volatile substances is a common and harmful phenomenon among young persons around the world. Clinical and cytogenetic studies were performed in 35 children (33 boys and 2 girls) chronically habituated to inhalation of volatile agents, with the aim to define whether this practice is associated with chromosome abnormalities and if so to what extent. A significant increase in the rate of chromosome abnormalities and in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) was found in sniffers over the values in controls (p < 0.001). Clinical, socioeconomic, and cytogenetic findings are discussed.