Chromosomal alterations and sister chromatid exchanges induced by zirconium oxychloride in human lymphocytes in vitro with relation to age of donors.

Aqueous solutions of zirconium oxychloride were added to human peripheral blood lymphocyte culture. Cultures were set up from healthy donors of both sexes belonging to age groups of 0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years. Airdried Giemsa schedule was followed for preparation of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei count. Flourescence plus Giemsa staining techniques were applied for the study of sister chromatid exchange. The endpoints screened were chromosome and chromatid breaks, dicentrics and rearrangements. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges induced were compared between the samples of different age groups. The frequency of CA could not be related to age of the donor. However, the frequency of SCE increased with increase in age of female donor.