The micronucleus assay in the oral exfoliated cells of tannery workers

CONTEXT: Micronuclei, tannery workers, chromium, papanicolaou (PAP) stain. AIMS: The presence of micronuclei are biomarkers broadly used; the detection of micronuclei offers a great opportunity to monitor individuals or populations exposed to mutagenic, genotoxic or teratogenic events, mainly the evaluation of micronucleogenic cells presence in epithelial tissues. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Tannery workers with and without tobacco usage was considered for microneuceli assessment using PAP stain, 50 patients without usage of tobacco was taken and 50 patients with usage of tobacco was considered. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cytological smears were produced and stained with PAP stain for the evaluation of micronuclei. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Students t-test, analysis of variance. RESULTS: Our findings concluded that chromium exposure causes instability of the genetic material in the tannery workers and can be taken as an indication that these individuals have increased cancer risks. The present study also concluded that PAP could be used as a specific marker for micronuclei assessment. CONCLUSIONS: In our case study, we have seen increasing number of micronuclei frequencies in tobacco user's tannery workers than nonuser's tannery workers, which we can use as a predictor marker of premalignant and malignant lesion.