DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2017.v05i08.001

Pages: 555-560

The presence of micronuclei in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells has proven a useful biomarker of occupational exposure to petroleum products. Genetic damage is the most important basic cause of developmental and degenerative disease. It is also well established that genomic damage is produced by environmental exposure to genotoxins, medical procedures (eg, radiation and chemicals), micronutrient deficiency (eg, folate), lifestyle factors (eg, alcohol, smoking, drugs, and stress), and genetic factors, such as inherited defects in DNA metabolism and/or repair. To investigate the cytogenetic damage in exfoliated buccal cells obtained from petrol pump attendants and control subjects, using the micronucleus test. The study sample consisted of 100 subjects (males) in the age group 21-60 years (Exposed group). The control group consisted of 100 individuals without clinically observed lesions and without any tobacco habits (Unexposed group). The petrol pump attendants (Exposed) group consisted of 50 subjects with tobacco habits such as tobacco chewing only, smoking only and both tobacco chewing and smoking(Exposed Group I); other 50 exposed subjects included were petrol pump workers without the above-said habits (Exposed Group II). The smear was obtained from the mucosa of the oral cavity by using the sterile cytopathology brush. Slides fixed in ethanol fixative and stained using Giemsa and PAP stain and 1000 cells were studied by using a light microscope. In this study, it was found that an average number of micronuclei (MN) were directly proportional to the years of exposure, 08.77 in subjects with 14 years of exposure and least in less exposed subjects (3-5 years). The average number of micronuclei (MN) in subjects who worked for more than 12 hours a day was high (08.23). A higher frequency of micronuclei was observed in petrol pump workers when exposed for a longer duration and much higher MN were seen in workers with tobacco use. It is necessary to educate