Wood Dust Induced Genotoxicity as an Occupational Hazard in Carpentry Workers

Dr. Tahir M. Malla; Basharat A. Malla; Dr. Mahrukh H. Zargar; Dr. M. Adil Beg

Volume : IV, Issue : IX, September - 2015

Wood Dust Induced Genotoxicity as an Occupational Hazard in Carpentry Workers

Dr. Tahir M. Malla, Basharat A. Malla, Dr. Mahrukh H. Zargar, Dr. M. Adil Beg

Abstract :

<p>To evaluate the extent of genetic damage caused by the wood dust exposure in carpentry workers of Bhopal&ndash;Madhya Pradesh, blood samples from 25 carpentry workers and 25 controls were collected after written informed consent and analyzed for chromosome aberrations. Genotoxicity was studied by chromosomal aberration assay in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of carpentry workers. To analyze the results, statistical analysis was performed using Student&rsquo;s t&ndash;test. Chromosomal aberrations were found to be statistically higher in the wood dust exposed persons than the control group. The increased percentile of chromosomal damage in the carpentry workers was directly related to their exposure to wood dust. The findings of this investigation indicate that carpentry workers seem to be facing the occupational hazard of genotoxicity due to inhalation of wood dust and are at an elevated risk of diseases that can be caused by the chromosomal damage.</p>