A chromosome study among worker groups in the rubber industry.

Two cytogenetic endpoints, structural chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges, were analyzed in the blood lymphocytes of several worker groups and referents for an evaluation of possible work-related exposures to chromosome-damaging agents. A total of 35 referents and 55 rubber workers, the latter representing six job categories in two rubber factories, were included in the study. The two job categories frequently revealing increased sister chromatid exchanges or chromosome aberrations were mixers and weighers of chemicals. Statistically significantly increased sister chromatid exchange values were found among the weighers and the mixers. When chromosome aberrations were analyzed, only the group of nonsmoking weighers showed significantly higher values than the reference group. Smoking was found to correlate with increased frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations among both the workers and the referents.