DNA and chromosome alterations in lymphocytes of operating room personnel and in patients before and after inhalation anaesthesia.

In order to evaluate the possible genotoxic effects of inhalation anaesthetics, the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations was studied in peripheral lymphocytes of control subjects, operating room personnel and patients before and after inhalation anaesthesia during orthopaedic operations. In the patients, the frequency of DNA breaks was studied as well. None of the genotoxic parameters showed an increase which could be related to anaesthetic exposure. The frequency of sister chromatid exchange was very similar in the control and personnel groups, as well as in patients before and after operation. The frequency of chromosome aberrations was unusually low in the control group, whereas the personnel and patient groups showed normal levels of chromosome aberrations which did not differ from previously studied control groups. There was no statistical difference in the frequency of chromosome aberrations or DNA breaks in the patient group after, as compared to before, operation. Smokers were found to have a significantly increased frequency of chromosome gaps compared to nonsmokers, but there was no indication that this difference was related to anaesthetic exposure. The data presented give no indications of genotoxic effects in vivo of inhalation anaesthetics by either occupational exposure to waste anaesthetic gases, or anaesthesia during operation. On the other hand, our present data do not contradict previous data indicating that hospital personnel, irrespective of exposure to inhalation anaesthetics, may have a small average increase of chromosome abnormalities.