Single-strand breaks in DNA of peripheral lymphocytes of styrene-exposed workers.

Single-strand breaks (SSB) were determined by means of the DNA unwinding technique in peripheral lymphocytes of styrene-exposed workers and referents. A slight increase in SSB was observed among exposed subjects in comparison with a control group of office workers. A correlation was found between SSB, the excretion of mandelic acid and the concentration of styrene glycol in blood. The present work suggests that the DNA unwinding technique can be used for screening workers exposed to genotoxic compounds.