Workers exposed to wood dust have an increased micronucleus frequency in nasal and buccal cells: results from a pilot study.

Background: Wood dust is recognized as a human carcinogen, based on the strong association of wood dust exposure and the elevated risk of malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses (SNC). The study aimed to assess genetic damage in workers exposed to wood dust using biomarkers in both buccal and nasal cells that reflect genome instability events, cellular proliferation and cell death frequencies.
Methods: Nasal and buccal epithelial cells were collected from 31 parquet layers, installers, carpenters, and furniture workers (exposed group) and 19 non-exposed workers located in east Switzerland. Micronucleus frequencies (MN) were scored in nasal and buccal cells collected among wood workers. Other nuclear anomalies in buccal cells were measured through the use of the buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt).
Results: MN frequencies in nasal and buccal cells were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group; odds ratio (OR) for nasal cells 3.1 (95%CI 1.8-5.1) and buccal cells 1.8 (95%CI 1.3-2.4). The exposed group had higher frequencies of cells with nuclear buds, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, karyolytic cells and a decrease in the frequency of basal, binucleated and condensed cells compared to the non-exposed group.
Conclusions: Our study confirms that wood workers’ have an elevated risk for genotoxicity. . Since increased genotoxicity is manifested in an increased MN frequency, the MN assay in nasal cells may become a relevant biomonitoring tool in the future for early detection of SNC risk. Future studies should seek to standardize the protocol for MN frequency in nasal cells similar to that for MN in buccal cells.