Determining urine sample mutagenicity ratio using Ames test: Tehran forensic medicine laboratory personnels.

Background: Cancer prevention besides detection and treatment has a very important role in control of cancer disease. Since some chemical compounds that are used in laboratories, especially in pathology laboratory are potentially mutagens, lab assistances that are working with chemicals such as Benzene, Xylazine and Formaldehyde for long period of time may be exposed to overload of these carcinogens. Therefore, it is necessary to use an indicator for detecting these occupational exposures. Ames test has been recommended in biomonitoring of environment that has high risk carcinogenicity characteristic. Methods: A total of fifty seven urine samples of forensic medicine laboratory personnel's were extracted by C18 column and then tested by TA100 and TA98 standard strains of Ames assay. Each sample was analyzed with and without activator to detect mutagen and promutagen materials. Results: Levels of mutagenicity were found by TA98 strain without activator in one case as well as with activator in two cases of urine samples of pathology laboratory personnel's. These cases were working in laboratory for long time in all of the workdays. Conclusion: Personnel's working in pathology laboratories may have greater risk of cancer and should be take care from these occupational exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]