Mutagenic activity in urine from smokers detected by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) of peripheral lymphocytes
Hu, G.G.
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 11(5): 355-357
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-3766 PMID: 2620631 Document Number: 329847
Mutagenic activity in urine from smokers was detected by SCE. Human peripheral lymphocytes were treated with 50 microliters urine (contain 0.1 mg creatinine) from 63 smokers and 34 non-smokers for SCE analysis. The results showed that there was significantly higher SCE frequencies (7.82 +/- 1.12/cell) of lymphocytes treated with urine of smokers as compared with those of non-smokers (6.49 +/- 1.12/cell) (P less than 0.001). However, the mutagenicity in urine of smokers who smoked 20 cigarettes/day was similar to those of smokers on 10 cigarettes/day. Intake of mutagens from food might be responsible for the low level mutagens in urine of some non-smokers. This test may provide a sensitive, economical bioassay for evaluating cancer risk in smokers.