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Occupational genotoxicity risk evaluation through the comet assay and the micronucleus test
M.G. Martino-Roth1,2, J. Viégas2 and D.M. Roth3
1Escola de Medicina, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
2Departamento de Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia,
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
3Mestranda do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
Corresponding author: M.G. Martino-Roth
E-mail: [email protected]
Genet. Mol. Res. 2 (4): 410-417 (2003)
Received August 3, 2003
Accepted December 8, 2003
Published December 30, 2003

ABSTRACT. The micronucleus (MN) test and the alkaline single cell gel or comet assay were applied to exfoliated cells of the buccal mucous in order to evaluate the genotoxic risk associated with occupational exposure of 10 storage battery renovation workers, and 10 car painters, with age matched controls, in Pelotas, RS, in southern Brazil. In the MN test, 2000 exfoliated buccal cells were analyzed for each individual, while 100 cells were examined in the comet assay. In the comet test, both comet tail length and a damage index were calculated. Highly significant effects of occupational exposure were found with both the MN test and the comet assay (P < 0.001). The comet assay was found to be rapid, of simple visualization, and it is a sensitive technique for measuring and analyzing DNA damage in human cells.

Key words: Micronucleus test, Occupational exposure, Comet assay

 

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