Cytogenetic and cytokinetic investigations on lymphocytes from workers occupationally exposed to tetrachloroethylene.

Lymphocytes from 10 factory workers, who had been exposed to tetrachloroethylene for 3 months to 18 years, were examined for possible chromosome aberration, increased sister chromatid exchanges, and modified cell-cycle kinetics. The exposure intensity was such that the workroom air analyses disclosed 92 ppm as a geometric mean in the workshops for Group 1 (6 workers from decreasing workshops), but was in the range of 10 to 40 ppm for Group 2 (4 workers from a support department). Urinalyses for total trichloro-compounds showed 50.7 and 19.0 mg (as trichloroacetic acid)/l as a geometric mean in Group 1 and 2, respectively. cytogenetic and cytokinetic studies did not reveal any significant dose-related changes in chromosome aberrations (either numerical or structural), SCEs rate, the proportion of M2 + M3 metaphases or mitotic index, compared with concurrent controls. Mitomycin C treatment also failed to induce any difference between exposed workers and controls.