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Document ID (ISN)65738
CIS number 95-2140
ISSN - Serial title 0340-5761 - Archives of Toxicology
Year 1994
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Fuchs J., Wullenweber U., Hengstler J.G., Bienfait H.G., Hiltl G., Oesch F.
Title Genotoxic risk for humans due to work place exposure to ethylene oxide: Remarkable individual differences in susceptibility
Bibliographic information 1994, Vol.68, No.6, p.343-348. 36 ref. Illus.
Abstract Single strand breaks of DNA of peripheral mononuclear blood cells from 97 workers exposed to ethylene oxide were analyzed by the alkaline elution method. The maximum concentration of ethylene oxide detected in the air was 16.5mg/m3 calculated as 4-h time-weighted average (4h TWA). Compared to the mean elution rate of the DNA from non-smoking workers exposed to air concentrations of ethylene oxide below the detection limit of 0.1mg/m3 (4h TWA) the non-smokers working in rooms with a concentration of ethylene oxide between 0.5mg/m3 and 2mg/m3 showed a statistically significant (P<0.05) 119% higher mean elution rate and even for the non-smokers exposed to 0.1-0.5mg/m3 of ethylene oxide a statistically significant (P<0.05) 53% higher mean elution rate was observed. In the majority of the non-smokers (67%) approximately 5-fold more DNA strand breaks were induced by ethylene oxide than in the other non-smokers.
Descriptors (primary) toxic effects; individual susceptibility; genetic effects; ethylene oxide
Descriptors (secondary) determination in air; smoking
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceGermany
Subject(s) Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Antifertility and prenatal effects
Ethers
Ethylene oxide
Genetic factors in reaction to exposures