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Techniques for biomonitoring of human populations for genetic effects^*

Adayapalam Tyagarajan Natarajan

MGC, Department of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, State University of Leiden, Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 AL Leiden, Netherlands

ABSTRACT

At present there are several techniques available for monitoring human exposure to genotoxic agents. The most sensitive one is the determination of DNA adducts or protein (haemoglobin) adducts. Among the biological end points, chromosomal changes appear to be most sensitive, especially the analysis of cells containing a high frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs). The HPRT-mutation assay, though not very sensitive, can be very useful for detecting exposure to specific genotoxic agents, which can be revealed by the occurrence of hot spots.

Keywords: biomonitoring; genetic effects.

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* This paper was presented at the ICRO/UNESCO International Training Course "Molecular Organization of the Eukaryotic Chromosome in Relation to the Induction of Chromosome Aberrations" organized by Professor Günter Obe, Dr. Máximo E. Drets and Dr. Gustavo A. Folk, held September 16-28, 1991 at Montevideo, Uruguay. It is the third in a series of five papers from this course which will be published in the Brazilian Journal of Genetics.