ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the biochemical and genotoxic effects of the occupational exposure to vinyl chloride monomer [VCM]. The study included 84 workers occupationally-exposed to VCM, including 54 working in the Petrochemical Company and 30 working in El-Masria Company, in addition to 20 subjects as a control group. The biochemical assessment of the occupationally-exposed group involved a determination of glutathione [GSH] content in whole blood, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and glutathione S-transferase [GST]. Twenty workers showed an elevation in these biochemical parameters. They were subjected to cytogenetic investigations including blood cultures for sister chromatid exchange [SCE] evaluation and micronucleus [MN] assay. A cytogenetic evaluation was performed to six of the control group using both SCE evaluation and MN assay. The statistical analysis of variance between groups [one-way ANOVA] revealed a significant decrease in GSH and GPx levels in the blood of workers when compared with the control group and a significant increase in the level of GST in workers when compared with the control group. The mean SCE/cell for the exposed workers was higher than that of the control, the difference was statistically nonsignificant. The mean MN/500 cytokinesis blocked binucleated cells was higher in the occupationally-exposed workers as compared the control group, the difference was statistically significant