Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes from stainless steel welders.

The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), structural chromosomal aberrations and the number of chromosomes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes from stainless steel welders were studied. The surveys were carried out three times during a period of three years. There were no significant differences in the mean value and variance of SCE frequency among these three surveys both in the welders and in the controls. In the results from these three surveys, there were statistical differences in the variance of SCE frequency between the welder and control groups. Futhermore, there was significant difference in the mean values of SCE frequency between smokers and non-smokers among the welders. The incidences of structural chromosomal aberrations in the welders were slightly but sinificantly higher than those in the controls with respect to aberrant metaphases, chromatid and chromosome gaps, chromatid breaks, dicentric chromosomes and chromatid exchanges. As for the number of chromosomes, two welders with 47 chromosomes in about 70% of total metaphases were found, and their chromosome findings were confirmed to be 46, XY/47, XXY.