Cytogenetic Patterns in Persons Living near Love Canal -
- New York
Residents and former residents of the area surrounding Love
Canal,
a former dump site for chemical wastes of Niagara Falls, New York,
were recently studied for cytogenetic changes. Frequencies of
chromosomal aberrations and/or sister chromatid exchange (SCE) were
measured in peripheral blood specimens obtained between December
1981
and February 1982 from 46 persons. Blind analyses were performed
with
44 matched control specimens from persons living in another part of
Niagara Falls. Two sets of Love Canal participants were included.
The first group consisted of 29 persons who, in 1978, lived in
seven
of 12 homes, directly adjoining the canal, in which air, water, and
soil testing showed elevated levels of chemicals spreading from the
canal. The second group included 17 persons in whom cytogenetic
analyses had been performed in 1980 as part of a pilot
investigation
supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1).
In neither group did frequencies of SCE or chromosomal
aberrations
(such as gaps, breaks, fragments, or supernumerary acentrics)
differ
significantly from control levels (Table 1). Karyotypes were
normal
in all specimens. In assessing chromosome damage, several factors
of
interest--sex, cigarette smoking, history of playing on the canal
site, and history of attending an elementary school that adjoined
the
site--were examined as possible causes of cytogenetic variation.
History of current cigarette smoking was significantly associated
with
increased SCE frequency, a result observed independently in studies
elsewhere (2). Other factors, alone or in combination, were not
associated with any significant increase in chromosome damage.
Reported by M Bender, Brookhaven National Laboratory, R Preston,
Oak
Ridge National Laboratory; Center for Environmental Health, Office
of
the Director, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: In May 1980, results of an earlier cytogenetic
study
led to concern that chromosome damage might be increased among
residents of the Love Canal area. Results of the present study do
not
support this conclusion and indicate instead that chromosome
alteration frequencies are the same in Love Canal residents as in
residents elsewhere in Niagara Falls. Interpretation of these
findings are limited by 1) considerable passage of time since 1978
when homes adjoining the canal were evacuated and corrective
drainage
work began at the site, and 2) lack of objective measurements for
canal-related chemical exposures in individual residents. Although
cytogenetic changes in peripheral blood lymphocytes are known to
persist for years after exposure to ionizing radiation, similar
persistence after chemical exposures may not necessarily occur (3).
Cytogenetic studies may prove useful in the future in assessing
subclinical toxic damage in situations where tests can be done at
the
time of exposure or soon after, and where individual exposure can
be
reliably measured. Present experience, however, suggests that,
while
cytogenetic measurements of this sort may provide good correlations
with doses of radiation or toxin, their predictive value for future
individual health is quite uncertain (3).
References
Picciano D. Pilot cytogenetic study of the residents living
near
Love Canal, a hazardous waste site. Mammalian Chromosome
Newsletter 1980;21:86-93.
Carrano AV, Moore DH. The rationale and methodology of
quantifying sister chromatid exchange in humans. In: Heddle
JA,
ed. Mutagenicity: new horizons in genetic toxicology. New
York:
Academic Press, 1982:267-304.
Bloom AD, ed. Guidelines for studies of human populations
exposed
to mutagenic and reproductive hazards. New York: March of
Dimes
Birth Defects Foundation, 1981.
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