| Biomarker Monitoring of a Population Residing near Uranium Mining Activities
William W. Au,1 Richard G. Lane,2 Marvin S. Legator,1 Elbert B. Whorton,1 Gregg S. Wilkinson,1 and Gary J. Gabehart1 1Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and 2Department of Radiation Therapy, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1110 USA Abstract
We investigated whether residents residing near uranium mining operations (target population) , who are potentially exposed to toxicants from mining waste, have increased genotoxic effects compared with people residing elsewhere (reference population) . Population surveys were conducted, and 24 target and 24 reference residents were selected. The selected subjects and controls were matched on age and gender and they were nonsmokers. Blood samples were collected for laboratory studies. The standard cytogenetic assay was used to determine chromosome aberration frequencies, and the challenge assay was used to investigate DNA repair responses. We found that individuals who resided near uranium mining operations had a higher mean frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations and higher deletion frequency but lower dicentric frequency than the reference group, although the difference was not statistically significant. After cells were challenged by exposure to  -rays, the target population had a significantly higher frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations and deletion frequency than the reference group. The latter observation is indicative of abnormal DNA repair response in the target population. Key words: chromosome aberrations, DNA repair, hazardous chemicals, population study, radiation. Environ Health Perspect 103:466-470 (1995)
Address correspondence to W.W. Au, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1010 USA. This study was supported by the Texas Legislature and by the Texas Department of Health (IAC1461) . The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not reflect the views and policies of the Texas Legislature nor the Texas Department of Health. We are thankful for the generous guidance of Senator Carlos Truan, Vic Hines, and the staff of the Texas Department of Health ; the generous assistance of Frank Kurzaj, concerned citizens in Pana Maria, Dennis Mika of the Otto Kaiser Hospital, Susie Kotara, Sylvia Szucs, Randa El-Zein, Sandra McKenzie, Jeff Sibly, and Melinda Duroux. We also thank Arthur Frank, Mary Esther Gaulden, T.C. Hsu, and John B. Little for providing us with valuable comments on our manuscript. Received 17 August 1994 ; accepted 19 December 1994.
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