INCREASE IN EPITHELIAL BUCCAL CELL MICRONUCLEI IN STUDENTS EXPOSED TO EMBALMING SOLUTION VAPOR
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Date
2009-09-21
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Chiang Mai Medical Journal
Abstract
The micronuclei were evaluated in epithelial buccal cells of 47 dentistry students, who were taking a human gross anatomy course at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. Buccal cells were collected and stained to investigate micronucleus induction in order to study genotoxicity before, during and after exposure to embalming solution, which contains formaldehyde, methanol and phenol. The buccal cells were collected at 0, 10 and 15 weeks, with exposure periods of 4 hours per week. The cells were separated using cytocentrifuge before staining with Feulgen plus Fast Green. The results showed a significant increase in the total number of micronuclei in mononucleated buccal cells, from 1.57±1.51 to 5.26±3.91 and 2.53±1.72 micronuclei per 1,500 mononucleated buccal cells at 0-, 10- and 15-week exposure periods, respectively. Formaldehyde, methanol and phenol levels in the air of the dissection room were collected and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-flame ionization detection, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their measurable levels were 0.19±0.06, 39.72 ±49.10 and 0.08±0.05 μg/mL, respectively, meaning the level of formaldehyde was higher than the recommended NIOSH exposure limit of 0.0016 μg/mL. It was concluded that increasing micronuclei in the dentistry student’s epithelial buccal cells may have resulted from co-exposure of compounds contained in the embalming solution.
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Chiang Mai Medical Journal; Vol.47 No.3 September 2008 (pages 97 - 148); 115 - 123