Perchloroethylene: Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro.

Perchloroethylene (PCE), a widely used solvent, is classified as a probable human carcinogen. We have studied its genotoxicity, clastogenicity, and cytotoxicity in cultured human peripheral lymphocytes (HPLs). Cytogenetic tests used were the chromosomal aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), mitotic index (MI), replication index (RI), and micronucleus (MN) assays. Positive results were obtained with each of these assays: a dose-dependent increase in CA, a significant increase in SCE, a significant decrease in MI and RI, and an increase in MN frequency at the highest concentration of PCE. These results demonstrate that PCE induces significant genotoxic and clastogenic effects in human peripheral lymphocytes.