Sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal breakage in pentachlorophenol (PCP) exposed workers.

A cytogenetic study was performed on 20 healthy workers exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP) in concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 180 micrograms/m3 (Maximum Concentration at the workplace is 500 micrograms/m3) for 3 to 34 years. PCP was determined in the blood plasma of all probands, yielding concentrations between 23 and 775 micrograms/l (Biological Tolerance Value is 1000 micrograms/l). In vitro PCP up to 90 mg/l was added to phytohaemagglutinin stimulated lymphocytes of normal healthy donors without any effect on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) or chromosomal aberrations (CA), whereas a slowdown of cell proliferation could be detected in the presence of 60 mg PCP/l. In vivo we neither observed a relation between PCP concentrations and the number of SCE nor an increase of CA.