Chromosomal aberration analysis in workers exposed to chemical and biological hazards in research laboratories.

Cytogenetic monitoring of individuals occupationally exposed to chemical and biological hazards has found increased frequencies of cells with chromosomal aberrations. During the present study we analyzed the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in cells from individuals working in various chemistry and biology research laboratories of the University of Brasilia, Brazil. When evaluated jointly and compared to a control group there was no significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the laboratory personnel. However, a group constituted of individuals of the Genetics Laboratory showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of structural chromosomal aberrations of the chromatid gap type.