[Methods of surveillance based on the genotoxic properties of chemical agents].

Methods permitting to monitor human populations exposed to genotoxic agents are based either on research of cytogenetic alterations in germinal and somatic cells, or on the demonstration of genotoxic effects in biological fluids, especially urine and blood components. These effects are represented by: formation of mutation producing derivatives, sought in urine with mutagenesis bacterial tests, formation of additives with DNA in lymphocytes and with hemoglobin in red cells, induction of a non-programmed synthesis of DNA (reconstructive synthesis) in lymphocytes, presence of enzymatic mutants with a deficiency in hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyl-transferase in the lymphocytes. This second group of methods is described and examples of application are given.