[Chromatid exchanges: a chromosomal index of environmental mutagenicity].

The induction of exchanges between related chromatids (SCEs) was studied to discover exposure to genotoxic agents. The frequencies of SCEs were recorded in a group of workers exposed to azoic dyes and in a control group. The chromatid exchange test was proved to be a sensitive indicator of chemical mutagenic action. The results on SCE frequency and chromosome aberrations indicate that these workers had been exposed to mutagenic agents.