Abstract
The recent claim of a 5 to 6 fold increase in cells with chromosomal damage in individuals in Oklahoma City exposed to spray adhesives, the resulting national warnings, and the questionable nature of the evidence offered in support of the association, prompted a local “blind–assessment” study of chromosome breakage in 11 exposed and 11 control individuals. PHA stimulated peripheral blood cultured for 72 hours (as in the Oklahoma study) was used. The cells were scored “blindly”, i.e. without knowledge of their source, and only metaphase spreads with clear evidence for chromosome breakage, exclusive of gaps, were scored as “positive”. Approximately 700 cells from each group were evaluated. The rate in the exposed was 1.3% and in the controls 1.0%; a non-significant difference which in fact excludes with 95% confidence a rate in the exposed 2½ times or greater that in the controls. In the entire study 3 cells with evidence for chromosomal rearrangement were seen: 2 dicentrics in the controls and 1 in the exposed. Thus this study does not confirm the Oklahoma report. It does raise more general questions as to what laboratory evidence of chromosome breakage warrants the nationwide emergency action that occurred with spray adhesives, and how scientific societies can provide immediate consultation for regulatory agencies in need of advice.
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Hook, E., Brinson, P., Feck, J. et al. CHROMOSOMAL BREAKAGE AND SPRAY ADHESIVE EXPOSURE. Pediatr Res 8, 390 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00299
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00299
