Sister-chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes from styrene-exposed boat builders.

Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) were measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 40 workers in the boat-building trade. Twenty of these workers were exposed to significant amounts of styrene. The mean air concentration of styrene in the breathing zone of the boat builders was 209 mg/m3 in the 7 exposed current smokers and 230 mg/m3 in the 13 exposed non-smokers. Urinary styrene metabolites were also measured and the mean mandelic acid/creatinine ratios in the exposed, smokers was 275 mg/g, and in the exposed, non-smokers 323 mg/g. The SCE frequency in lymphocytes from the styrene-exposed group did not differ from that in the controls, although smoking significantly induced SCE in these workers.