Rosales-Rimache Jaime A, Elizabeth Malca Nancy, Alarcón Jhonatan J, Chávez Manuel, Gonzáles Marco Antonio
Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2013 Oct-Dec;30(4):595-600.
To determine the genotoxic damage among artisanal and small-scale mining workers exposed to mercury.
Observational cross-sectional study which evaluated mercury-exposed workers (n=83), whose cells were collected by mouth swab for further staining, microscopic observance, micronuclei count, and other nuclear alterations. 24-hour urine was also collected for the determination of inorganic mercury.
68.7% of participants were male, the mean age being 43 ± 12,4 years (range: 16-76). The average time of occupational exposure to mercury was 12,1 ± 6,7 years, and the contact with mercury was 4,1 ± 3,6 kg per person per day. 93% of participants failed to wear personal protection gear while handling mercury. Results of biological monitoring showed that 17% of participants had concentrations of mercury in urine higher than 2,5 µg/L, this value being the detection limit of the measurement technique used. Results of the genotoxic evaluation evidenced that 15% of people with labor exposure to mercury presented micronuclei in mouth epithelial cells, and other indicators of nuclear alteration such as nucleoplasmic bridges, gemmation and binucleation were found, which are also considered genotoxic events associated to the exposure of physical or chemical risk agents.
The finding of micronuclei in mouth epithelial cells reflects genotoxic damage associated to the labor exposure of mercury used in artisanal and small-scale mining activities.
确定接触汞的个体和小规模采矿工人的遗传毒性损害。
观察性横断面研究，评估接触汞的工人（n = 83），通过口腔拭子收集其细胞，用于进一步染色、显微镜观察、微核计数及其他核改变检测。同时收集24小时尿液以测定无机汞。
68.7%的参与者为男性，平均年龄为43±12.4岁（范围：16 - 76岁）。职业接触汞的平均时间为12.1±6.7年，每人每天接触汞的量为4.1±3.6千克。93%的参与者在处理汞时未佩戴个人防护装备。生物监测结果显示，17%的参与者尿液中汞浓度高于2.5μg/L，该值为所用测量技术的检测限。遗传毒性评估结果表明，15%的职业接触汞人员口腔上皮细胞出现微核，并发现了其他核改变指标，如核质桥、核芽和双核，这些也被认为是与接触物理或化学风险因素相关的遗传毒性事件。
口腔上皮细胞中发现微核反映了个体和小规模采矿活动中职业接触汞所导致的遗传毒性损害。
