info@biomedres.us   +1 (502) 904-2126   One Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 300, Westchester, IL 60154, USA   Site Map
ISSN: 2574 -1241

Impact Factor : 0.548

  Submit Manuscript

Research ArticleOpen Access

Genotoxic Effects on buccal Cells of Workers Exposed to Fogging Sprays during Fogging Operation

Volume 1 - Issue 5

Normah Awang*1, Dg Noor Aisah Kismin1, Nurul Farahana Kamaludin1 and Ahmad Rohi bin Ghazali2

  • Author Information Open or Close
    • 1Environmental Health and Industrial Safety Programme, Malaysia
    • 2Biomedical Science Programme, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia

    *Corresponding author: Normah Awang, Environmental Health and Industrial Safety Programme, Faculty ofHealth Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: October 05, 2017;   Published: October 12, 2017

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000433

Full Text PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

Background: Genetic damage is one of the most fundamental causes of structural and functional changes in DNA. There are a great number of physical, chemical, and biological agents that, either directly or indirectly, damage the integrity of this macromolecule. Genetic damage may be caused by environmental exposure to genotoxins, radiations, chemicals, micronutrient deficiency, lifestyle factors, and genetic factors.

Methodology: Analysis of micronucleus in buccal cells is used to study the genotoxic effect on workers exposed to fogging sprays during fogging operation. In this study, buccal cells from 31 fogging workers and 24 office workers were collected. The former was the exposed group, while the latter was the control group. The respondents were also required to answer a questionnaire. DNA damage was scored by counting the frequency of micronucleus per 1,000 cells for each sample. Scoring was done by observing the formation of micronuclei after staining using acridine orange.

Results: The result showed that the frequency of micronucleus in the fogging workers was significantly higher than the office workers. Other factors affecting the formation of micronuclei, such as age, smoking status, and years of pesticide exposure, was also investigated in this study. The results proved that there was a significant difference in the frequency of micronucleus among the workers who smoked and workers who did not smoke in the exposed group. In contrast, there were no significant differences for the factors namely age and years of pesticide exposure. There was also a weak positive correlation between working period (years) with the frequency of micronucleus, with r2 = 0.387, p<0.05. Multiple linear regression test also suggested that smoking status and years of pesticide exposure can be the significant predictors for the frequency of micronucleus (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The genotoxic effect that occurs in fogging workers should be further assessed to improve their health and to maintain the safety at the workplace.

Keywords : Micronucleus Assay; DNA damage; Fogging

Abstract| Introduction| Materials and Method| Results and Discussion| Conclusion| Acknowledgement| References|