Childhood Cytogenetic Reference Values

Gabriella Bognár1, Gabriella Mészáros1, Katalin Szalma1, Péter Brunner2, Katalin Lelkes3, and György J. Köteles1

1 Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
2 József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
3 The Madarász Street Children’s Hospital, Budapest, Hungary

Corresponding author: Dr. Gabriella Bognár
    Department for Diagnosis of Radiation Effects
    Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene
    József Fodor National Center for Public Health
    P.O. Box 101
    H-1775 Budapest, Hungary
    Telephone: (36 1) 482-2000
    Fax number: (36 1) 482 2003
    E-mail: bognar@hp.osski.hu

CEJOEM 2004, Vol.10. No.4.: 304–309

Key words:
Children population, micronucleus frequencies, chromosome aberrations, base values

Abstract:
The purpose of the present work is to develop medico-biological markers that indicate the health and cytogenetic status of children exposed to environmental pollution. To assess their health risk, at the first place we need to measure the cytogenetic base values of children living in unpolluted areas and as a second step to measure the same indicators in subjects coming from polluted regions. In the course of our work, we determined the cytogenetic base values of a population of children (aged between 7 and 14) living an industrially unpolluted urban area. From the biological indicators, we chose the lymphocyte micronucleus method, which is a relatively quick process and feasible for screening subjects in higher number, and the chromosome aberration analysis, which makes the risk assessment more accurate. Both types of aberration frequencies were found to be rather low, although some individual differences were detectable especially by the micronucleus technique. The micronucleus values scattered between 2 and 16 per thousand. Out of the chromosome aberrations, only acentric fragments, deletions, and minutes appeared with a total aberration frequency value of 1.12±0.90%. No significant differences were found between the two genders. The cytogenetic reference values might serve as a basis for any study on environmental burdens and assist the risk analysis due to industrial pollutions.

Received: 21 September 2004
Accepted: 14 February 2005
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