Chromosomal alterations in peripheral lymphocytes of female cabin attendants.

PURPOSE: To analyse lymphocyte chromosomes from female cabin attendants flying the North Atlantic route.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Peripheral lymphocytes from 58 cabin attendants and 29 controls, all female, were cultured and analyzed for structural chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). Cytogenetic data from 56 age-matched females from Berlin investigated between 1994 and 1996 as part of routine medical checks were used as an additional control group.

RESULTS

The mean frequencies of dicentric and ring chromosomes per 1000 cells amount to 1.3+/-0.2 in cabin attendants, 1.4+/-0.2 in ground personnel and 1.3+/-0.2 in the Berlin control group. Sister chromatid exchanges were found at mean frequencies of 7.0+/-0.1, 6.8+/-0.1 and 6.8+/-0.2 per cell respectively in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

When compared with controls, cabin attendants have no elevation of the frequencies of dicentric and ring chromosomes and SCE.