Effect Of Formaldehyde Exposure On Micronucleus Rate Of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes In Occupational Workers

Objective:Investigation of formaldehyde exposure influence on the micronucleus formation in peripheral blood lymphocytes in chemical plant workers.Methods:Using a hand-held formaldehyde concentration measuring machine, to measure concentration of formaldehyde in a chemical factory representative workshop. Using of cross-sectional survey method, to study the effect of formaldehyde on the chemical factory workers’perceived symptoms and emotional condition. Collecting workers peripheral venous blood, to measure basic biochemical indexes, and using ELISA to determinate of formaldehyde exposure markers (FA-HSA) content in serum. According to the content of FA-HSA, workers were divided to3groups as formaldehyde exposure low level group, middle level group and high level group. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) test was used to detect the micronuclei frequencies of peripheral blood lymphocyte in workers.Results:The formaldehyde concentration in the workshop is2.53±2.17mg/m3, and in the control environment it is less than0.3mg/m3. In the perceived symptoms and emotional condition, workers of formaldehyde exposure group told more tears, runny nose, fatigue, memory loss and back pain. Peripheral venous blood biochemical assays showed, formaldehyde exposure workers showed more significant difference in total protein level, globulin level and A/G differences. The FA-HSA level of formaldehyde exposure group and control group were204±103.2pg/ml and29.3±8.3pg/ml respectively. The difference between was significant. The double micronucleus formation rate of peripheral blood lymphocytes (MNF) in formaldehyde exposure workers is about2.09%o±0.63%oand the micronucleus rate of cells (MNCF) is1.89%o±0.63%o. Comparedly, the control group shows that MNF is0.82%o±0.32%o and MNCF is0.83%o±0.21%o. The difference is significant (P<0.01). The micronucleus frequencies in low, middle and high exposure groups were1.36±1.36%o,2.11±1.41%o and2.49±1.92%o respectively, and there were a statistically significant difference between the groups (P<0.01). Meanwhile, we also find the MNF and MNCF of the formaldehyde exposure workers is positively correlated with their working years.Conclusion:Formaldehyde exposure not only on the workers consciously disease and peripheral blood biochemical indicators have a significant impact, but also can significantly improve the micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to formaldehyde. Compared to the method of detection of FA-HSA content in serum, the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay is also a simple, fast and economic method as a sensitive indicator of exposure to early health damage.