Abstract

Objectives: -The present study was conducted to investigate the extent of genotoxicity in women bidi rollers of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. These bidi rollers were occupationally exposed to tobacco dust. Experimental approach: - Investigation of genotoxicity was done in 34 women bidi rollers and 30 age matched controls by assessing chromosome aberration % (CA%) in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes& the correlation of human GSTM1gene polymorphism with CA%. Findings and discussion: - Bidi rollers occupationally exposed to tobacco dust showed significantly increased CA%. It was found to be 3.0±0.63 (Mean± SE) and 3.7±0.39 in 30-35 years and 60-65 years age groups when compared to age matched controls (1.3±0.32 and 1.8±0.24 respectively) at P<0.05.Inexposure groups also the CA% was higher than that of controls. It was found 2.9±0.36 & 4.1±0.199 in >20 years&>50 years exposure groups respectively. The GSTM1 null controls expressed a slightly higher CA% (1.5±0.2) than GSTM1 positives (1.2±0.41). Similarly, the null rollers showed a higher CA% (2.8±0.4) than the positives (2.55±0.35) but the differences in both bidi rollers & controls were not significant. Conclusion: -The null genotype leads to increase CA% in rollers as well as in null controls.

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