Summary
Among human survivors following the methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas tragedy the major complaints have been related to deep-seated suffocation, terrible pain in breathing, and severe ocular irritations. In order to assess the possible genetic effects we have used lymphocyte cultures and screened chromosomes by two techniques; one by looking for chromosomal aberrations and the other by estimating sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies. Both these paramaters are good indicators of genetic damage in chromosomal DNA. SCE frequencies in lymphocytes have been increased more than three times in MIC-exposed persons. The results were compared to two groups of controls (one group comprising persons present in the same house; the second group of persons were chosen from distant places, 20–50 km away from the incident). Chromosomal breaks have been observed in 10 out of 14 MIC-affected people (71.4%) studied while only 6 out of 28 (21.4%) controls had chromosomal breaks. Some MIC-exposed persons had chromatin bodies in addition to the normal 46 chromosomes. These observations suggest that chromosomal DNA has been damaged.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gebhart E (1981) Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and structural chromosome aberration in mutagenicity testing. Hum Genet 58: 235–254
Ghosh R, Ghosh PK (1983) Siter-chromatid exchanges in herpes simplex infection. Mutat Res 119:303–308
Ghosh R, Ghosh PK (1984) Sister-chromatid exchanges in betel and tobacco chewers. Mutat Res 139:79–81
Goswami HK, Guron C, Jain N, Goswami I (1984) Genetic assessment of Union Carbide Gas Tragedy in Bhopal. I. Effects on somatic chromosomes and haemoglobin. Bionature 4:88–90
Hollstein MJ, McCann J, Angelosanto FA, Nichols WW (1979) Short-term tests for carcinogens and mutagens. Mutat Res 65:133–226
Ishidate M (1983) Cytogenetic screening for environmental mutagens and/or carcinogens using Chinese hamster cells in culture. In: Goswami HK (ed) Genetics and public health. Catholic Press, Ranchi
Jaju M, Jaju M, Ahuja YR (1983) Cytogenetic effects of chemotherapy with three combinations of antitubercular drugs involving isoniazid, thiacetazone, para-aminosalicylic acid and streptomycin on human lymphocytes: chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and mitotic index. Hum Genet 64:42–49
Kram D, Byrun GD, Senula GC, Schneider EL (1979) In utero sister chroamtid exchange analysis for detection of transplacental mutagens. Nature 279:531
Kram D, Bynum GD, Senula GC, Bickings CK, Schneider EL (1980) In utero analysis of sister chromatid exchange: alterations in susceptibility to mutagenic damage as a function of fetal cell type of gestational age. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:4784–4787
Levan A, Levan G, Mandahl N (1981) Double minutes and C-bandless chromosomes in a mouse tumour. In: Genes chromosomes and neoplasia. Raven Press, New York
Nakanishi Y, Schneider EL (1979) In vivo sister-chromatid exchange: a sensitive measure of DNA damage. Mutat Res 60:329–337
Perry P, Evans HJ (1975) Cytological detection of mutagen-carcinogen exposure by sister chromatid exchange. Nature 258:121–125
Seshadri R, Baker E, Sutherland GR (1982) Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis in mothers exposed to DNA-damaging agents and their newborn infants. Mutat Res 97:139–146
Wolff S (1977) Sister chromatid exchange. Annu Rev Genet 11:183–201
Wolff S (1984) Cytogenetics and environmental mutagens. In: Chopra VL, Joshi BC, Sharma RP, Bansal HC (eds) Genetics: new frontiers. Oxf & IBH, New Delhi
Wolff S, Carrano AV (1979) Report of the workshop on the utility of sister chromatid exchange. Mutat Res 64:53–56
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goswami, H.K. Cytogenetic effects of methyl isocyanate exposure in Bhopal. Hum Genet 74, 81–84 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278790
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278790