Sister chromatid exchanges in human peripheral blood lymphocytes after ingestion of high doses of arsenicals

Objective-To evaluate the cytogenetic effects following the ingestion of high doses of arsenicals. Methods - Determination of the mean sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency and the population of high-frequency cells (HFC, cells with a high SCE frequency) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in four patients who ingested 150 mg KAsO2, 1 g, 10 g and 20 g As2O3 respectively. Results-Doses of 10 g and 20 g significantly increased the HFC frequency and produced a shift in the distribution of the cells in accordance with the number of SCEs. The mean frequency of SCEs/cell was affected only after the highest dose (20 g). Conclusion-These results strongly suggest that cytogenetic methods are inappropriate for biomonitoring people occupationally exposed to arsenicals.