Cytogenetic evaluation of traffic policemen occupationally exposed to vehicular exhaust in Erbil city

Abstract EN

Background and objectives : Automobile exhaust consists of many toxic compounds and considered to be a major concern in urban areas.

Traffic policemen are occupationally exposed to vehicular exhaust during the traffic control.

Hence, the present study was aimed to evaluate genotoxic effects of vehicular exhaust in traffic policemen in Erbil city, Kurdistan region – Iraq.

Methods : Analysis of chromosomal aberrations were carried out in 50 traffic policemen, including 26 smoker and 24 nonsmokers who were exposed to vehicular exhaust for a period 1-20 years.

For comparison, 50 healthy males including 25 smokers and 25 nonsmokers of the age group and socio-economic status (who lived in non-urban areas) were studied.

Result : A significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in the mean frequency of chromosomal aberrations in nonsmoker and smoker traffic policemen when compared to their respective control groups.

According to the age, a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations were observed in control and exposed groups (P<0.05).

The duration of exposure increased in traffic policemen, there was a corresponding increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations.

Conclusion : Chromosomal aberrations were more pronounced in policemen who were exposed to vehicular exhaust compared with control group.

Age and duration of exposure also appear to play a vital role increasing chromosomal damage.

Thus the present study suggest that induction of chromosomal aberration might be due to the cumulative effect of smoking, age and duration of exposure to vehicular exhaust.