Chromosome aberrations observed in male workers occupationally exposed to lead

Chromosome observations were performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 14 workers from a zinc industry who presented signs of lead poisoning of different degrees. According to the type and duration of exposure, the workers examined were classified into 3 groups: people exposed to a high level of zinc and low levels of lead and cadmium; people exposed to high levels of the 3 minerals; and people exposed to high levels of lead and cadmium in the absence of zinc. The aberrations observed were dicentrics, rings, chromatid exchanges, gaps and fragments. From the analysis of the results it was concluded that exposure to zinc and cadmium does not seem to increase the number of cells with severe chromosomal anomalies and that lead intoxication can be considered to be responsible for these chromosomal aberrations.